BALDOWA IS THE STABLE HUMORIST

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 270, 4 February 1928, Page 6

BALDOWA IS THE STABLE HUMORIST

As he increases in years, Dal clow a, the handsome old chestnut owned and raced by Mr. R. B. Stiven, mine host at Wallacetown Junction Hotel, Southland, seems to be developing “horse sense” in the direction of humour. All his life “Father,” as he is affectionately known on the Southland tracks, has been full of tricks, and some of his most recent escapades are worth telling. BACK FOR DINNER When his ti*ainer, Mr. George Hope, was asked the other day where the horse was, he replied: “I don’t know; he opened the gate early this morning and went out somewhere. He’ll be back at dinner time or later.” Baldowa, many a time and oft, has got himself lost. He will open his loosebox, or patiently spend hours in unfastening a gate. Bolts, bars, wire fasteners, and slip rails intrigue him, and he is an adept at removing with teeth and lips such obstacles designed to keep him from seeking fresh pastures. Recently, at race time, he caused a stir by getting out of his paddock and then freeing about a dozen trotters from adjacent enclosures. It seemed to give him a peculiar Satisfaction to watch the harness crew get together and engage in a real "rough house.” THE FREE-FOR-ALL

It was a free-for-all till they were separated, Baldowa in the meantime having been a passive spectator, but the humour of the situation was not appreciated by angry owners and trainers. These took their grievance to Mr. Hope, the sequel being the

banishment of the light-hearted old galloper to a securely fastened back paddock. On such occasions Baldowa takes his rebuke very meekly, with an air of injured innocence that seems to inquire why he is singled out for special attention. And if his trainer hould sympathise with him, Baldowa immediately develops all sorts of ailments, and totters about as though he had galloped his. last circuit. He can "swing the lead” with the best of them. PUTTING THE LiGHT ON One of his pet tricks, is performed nearly every evening after he is fed. His box is closed, and the rascal will wait till he thinks his trainer has left, and then turn on the electric light. He has been caught many times at this. Sometimes Mr. Hope will re-enter the box suddenly to stir him up about it, and the old chap is found standing, and sometimes lying down, sound asleep! But if he is watched for a moment one eye Will be seen to slowly open. . He realises then that he has been found out, and immediately looks very sorry for himself. Every morning when Mr. Hope takes his saddle off after a v ork-out, Baldowa goes first to the sand-roll, and then to the water tap, turns on the water, and helps himself. Then back he goes to his stall, where his trainer is waiting for him. It can be imagined that Baldowa has many privileges. Certainly he is the pride of the stable, and nas quite a proper appreciation of his importance in the scheme of things.