English Jockey v.American

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 237, 14 January 1888, Page 8

English Jockey v. American

At the Agricultural Hall, on November !15fch, the main, feature's "of. the World's Athletic Carnival was a twenty mile riding match between Marve Beardsley, a noted express rider before the American continent was girdled with iroii roads, and J. Kellew, a young English jockey of great promise, at present serving his apprenticeship to Mr C. Wood. Each man usied five horses, changing at will,' and the race was run on the tan track, - sdveh .laps to tho mile. Beardsley was ,one of, the horsemen in the recent contest, and this of course gave him a familiarity on" the track which stood him in good stead as against his antagonist ; but this was a minor advantage compared with his immense superiority in what may be termed the equine gymnastics practised by the cowboys of the West in imitation of the red men of the prairies. Marve Beardsloy won the mafcoh solely by his capacity for remounting quickly, - fch© sorb of work for which, of course, an Englishman has no special "tra'ning. 'Jumping from a horse at a bound he rushed at his new mount, near oroft side indifferently, caught hold of the bridle and saddle, and, starting off at a gallop, scrambled into the 1 saddle while going full speed with ease and agility. Young Roliew, who rides admirably, might [safely be backed against Beardsley in a straigbt-off distance race, from the capacity he exhibited of nursing and getting the best out of his mount ; but for rapidly changing from one horse to another, he was, as compared with his rival simply nowhere. Moreover, once hia bridle broke, and he was thi'oWn, and very narrowly escaped being trampled on. He was up, however, like lightning, rushed back a quarter of a lap for a fresh 1 horse, and was , off in grand style before all the spectators were aware of what had occurred. This lost him a lap, while another lap was lost from' Majcveßeardsley's splendid agility in remounting. This loss was effected early in the race,, after Rellew had led for a short tinaq, but as between two and three laps the English jockey again and again caught and passed Beardsley* though the track was barely wide enough to accomplish the feat, and though ho .was beaten, he certainly lost no credit by his defeat; Beardsley ultimately won by two laps and one length.