SPORTING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3202, 31 May 1909, Page 6

SPORTING.

* THE CHAMPION TWO-YEA K-OL D PROVOCATION "KNIGHTED." What might well be termed an unique ceremony took place last week at Mr W. E. Bidwill's, Rototawni, on the occasion of the presentation of I a Maori Tiki to the champion two- | year-old colt P v ovocation, by Birkenhead— Stepfeldt, who scored no less than six firsts, three' seconds, and 1 one third during this season. The colt was bred by his owner, Mr W. E. Bidwill, and made his first appearance in public last October in the Hastings Stakes. Running very wide at the home turn, he ran a close second to the brilliant Elysian. In fiis next essay he won the Wellesley Stakes at Trentliam, and his other wins gained in convincing style were Jackson Stakes, Wangnaui; Cham | pagne Stakes, Riccarton; North | Island Challenge Stakes, Wellington; j Manawatu Stakes, Palmarston N.; and Hawke's Bay Stakes, Hastings. He ran second in both the Welcome Stakes and Feilding Stakes, and third in the Challenge Stakes at Riccarton. His total winnings for the season amounted to £2,560, the second highest amount ever won in New Zealand by one of his age, and three | weeks ago he went into winter i quarters the acknowledged champion 1 two-year-old of the Dominion. At this time Mr Bidwill received from Hoani Rangitikawaho,the well-known native chief of Wairarapa, a letter of appreciation of the excellent form displayed by the district-bred colt, and expressing the wish to present to Provocation a Maori Tiki in honour of his being proclaimed a champion. The letter also explained that the presentation to one which had so excelled in the contests he had taken part in would be considered in the nature of the conferring of the knighthood on those who had performed deeds of valour. In replying to the letter, Mr Bidwill extended an invitation to the donor to visit Rototawai to see Provocation, and at the same time to make the presentation in person. The invitation was accepted, a day mentioned for the ceremony, and at the time appointed Hoani Rangitikawaho was duly in attendance. After luncheon a move was made for the stables, those assembled including Mr and Mrs W. E. Bidwill, relations and friends, Hoani Rangitikawaho, Mr J. A. Farmer, trainer, the house and training staffs, and many other employees. In opening the proceedings, Mr Bidwill stated he had received the letter mentioned above, together with a Tiki as a tribute to the good deeds j performed by Provocation. Two years ago he had received from the chief a letter eulogistic of Elevation's winning form. It was, he said, a well known fact that the native race was second to none in their appreciation of a high class racehorse, and on receipt of the letter relative to Provocation, it was with nleasure

that he had invited Hoani Rangitikawaho to make the presentation in person. The native chief duly invested the champion cok with the order of the knighthood by decorating hni with the Tiki, which had been attached to a blue ribbon in Derby style, and in a spirited speech said : "Salutations to you all. lam especially pleased at being present on such an occasion for the purpose of taking part in a ceremony to do honour to a brilliant horse that has by his deeds during the past four months proved his ability by exceptional displays of fleetness of foot, together with the great courage worthy of his noble lineage, to defeat his opponents in most important events run at different parts of New Zealand. •■ It is with the greatest amount of pleasure that I offer my congratulations to Mr W. E. Bidwill—the son of one of the earliest and most worthy pioneers—on breeding and owning such a successful winner as Provocation, who has at the outset of his racing career exhibited such magnicSent brilliancy as a high class racehorse. The colt's deeds of valour in which he has won high laurels on the turf are distinctly worthy of the present proceedings in which I desire to present to him a fitting emblem of good luck, future success and immunity from harm; in the shape of a whale tooth Tiki, which is attached to the blue ribbon being tied around Provocation's neck. In days of old, when tribal wars were fought, the victorious chiefs on returning clothed in glory and fame were honoured in like manner to that accorded to the champion colt of New Zealand to-day. The distinction is in the nature of the conferring of a knighthood on a pereon who had accomplished good deeds worthy of such preferment. Although only two years old, Provocation has won nearly £3,000 in prize money, on occasions has carried heavy penalties consecjupnt on having achieved previous Victories, and even then has continued to triumph. Mr Bidwill has for some time been the fortunate owner of famous thoroughbreds, and it is my fervent wisn that in their future contests both Provocation and his distinguished relatives will win further honours for the popular owner of j Rototawai."

In reply, Mr Bidwill said he fully appreciated the sentiments expressed by Hoani Rangitikawaho, and was pleased that he had come that day to perform the ceremony of presenting the Tiki to Provocation, and thus confer the Maori token of appreciation. In so doing the donor was honouring a colt that had achieved high performances, in a similar manner accorded to those of the human race when they excelled their fellows in deeds of valour. He saw no reason why horses should not have tributes so paid to them, and of course this was so in the case of Derby winners being decorated with the blue ribbon of the turf. Hoani Rangitikawaho had conferred on Provocation the highest honour the

native race could award, and he was exceedingly proud of it. He fully appreciated the good deeds of the colt, and in this connection woul say that great credit was due to the trainer, Mr J. A. Farmer, for unless well looked after a horse could not be expected to continue iu winning form. He sincerely thanked Hoani Rangitikawaho for the presentation, and fur coming a long distance to perform the ceremony. Champagne having been handed round, Mr J. R. Nieol proposed the health oi Provocation and Hoani Rangitikawaho. In doing so he referred to the successes achieved by the champion two-year-old, and to the fact of the Tiki, the well-known emblem of good luck, being presented to the colt previous to his departure for Australia, where he is engaged in the A.J.C. Derby, and to the great appreciation of the native race of a good horse, as evidenced by the presentation made that day. Cheers were given for Hoani Rangitikawaho, Provocation, Mr and Mrs Bidwill, and the proceedings were brought to a close after a splendid picture of Provocation, the Native chief, and the company assembled, had been taken by Mr G. T. Stewart. The presentation and ceremony was the first of the kind that has taken place in New Zealand, and the- day will long be remembered with pleasure by Mr and Mrs Bidwill, and in fact by all who were present on the auspicious occasion.