Sporting Notes from Home

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 915, 5 February 1881, Page 6

Sporting Notes from Home

(By

Robin Hood

in the Australasian.

December 2nd 1880.)

Mb Galwey, the breeder of the thrice Waterloo Cup winner, Master M‘Grath, died a few days ago at the good old age of 81 years. On the second day at Croydon the Great Metropolitan Steeplechase was won by the top weight, Bacchus, who carried no less than 12st 51b, Regal, with 12st, started at 7 to 4, but failed to get a place. Lady Newman, an Irish mare, was second, and Sleight-of-Hand third.

Yesterday and to-day there is racing at Bromley, and next week there will be good sport at Sandown-park, but I fancy it seems getting colder again as I write, and as the wind is in the north it may be that some of the fixtures will be interfered with. The acceptances for the leading events at Sandown are rather poor, but I always patronise this meeting, because Sandown is the only place in England where they have the least idea how to conduct a race meeting. Mr J. R. Keene, the American millionaire, seems determined to leave no stone unturned and to spare nq expense to make his breeding establishment at Kentucky a complete one. It is only recently he purchased for, I think, s,oooguineas the famous French stallion Mortemer from M. Lefevre, and now Blue Gown, the Derby winner of 1868, has also to cross the Atlantic. Blue Gown has hardly been the success at the stud that he was expected to be, although he has got many good animals, both in this country and Germany. It is a pity that Mortemer was not bought for the Hampton-court stud, and I believe Mr Moore went over to see about getting him for Her Majesty’s stud on the banks of the Thames. Mr Keene was however, determinecLto have him, and outbid the Queen.

Once more Archer heads the list of winning jockeys, although he did not succeed in adding any to his total during the last week. His total falls far short of his records for the last five years, when he has generally exceeded 200 winning mounts, whilst this time his total is but 121. It seems hardly credible that he can have got to the top when it is remembered how long the accident to his arm kept him from the saddle during the very best part of the season. Archer has as nearly as possible scored a win every third mount, for he has ridden 121 winners and 240 losers, his total mounts being 361. George Fordham comes next with 105 wins from 365 mounts; “ Georgy ” has ridden many grand races this year, his getting home on Petronel at Newmarket being a masterpiece. The Middle-park stud is to be finally dispersed on Friday and Saturday, as Mr Blenkiron has resolved to sell the whole lot without reserve. The stallions include Scottish Chief, Dutch Skater, Victorious, and Vespasian, and there are about 50 brood mares, all highly bred, having been most carefully selected. I quite expect to find the foreign buyers get some bargains, for sales of blood stock recently have realised fearful prices. The attendance, if the weather be anything like fine, will, no doubt, be well, up to the average, as a rundown to Eltham is always enjoyable, and I do hope Mr Blenkiron may get something like a fair return for the amount of labour and capital which his father and himself have bestowed on the stud.

There seems every probability of a good deal of winter betting on the Derby and on the Two Thousand Guineas. This is rather surprising, as of late years both races have been a dead letter almost until about March. Bal Gal has been made a strong favorite for the Two Thousand Guineas, and 5 to 1 would be freely taken if obtainable. That she makes a noise is hardly to be doubted, but so did Charibert and Prince Charlie; although both won the race over the Rowley mile. Eight to one is the best or the field for the Derby,

this price has been.taken lately somewhat freely about St Louis, and a sustained run on Mr Gretton’s Geologist has landed the. colt at about .hundreds to sevens.

W. Gale, of Cardiff/the successful riyal to Captain Barclay is now at Lillie-bridge grounds engaged in attempting a feat which, if pulled through, will indeed put all previous records in the shade. It is no less a one than attempting to walk 2,500 miles in 2,000 consecutive half hours. Gale has to start at the even hour and walk a mile and a quarter and then again at the half-hour, and do another mile and a quarter, and so on, day and night,, till the 1,000 hours are past. It will thus be seen that for about six weeks he could never have over 10 or 11 minutes consecutive rest. The mile and a quarter takes him from 19 to 20 minutes (on the average), so he is only in his hut 10 minutes ere the bell sounds for the half-hour, and another mile and a quarter has to be done; then another brief 10 minutes and it is even hour again. Up to last night, Gale had done 700 odd miles, and had kept up this game for no less than 560 consecutive half hours, or nearly 12 days. It seems very doubtful whether he will pull through, as already he has been several times quite light headed, and walks round the track at night muttering to himself and talking all sorts of nonsense. The want of sleep is of course killing him. Such exhibitions answer no good purpose whatever, and it seems a pity that the law cannot piit a stop to them. It is true they show what a man’s body animated by a powerful will can perform, but when the accomplishment causes the brain to give way it is time for the law to step in and say, “ You have gone far enough ; no more.”