Welsh Newspapers

Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles

Hide Articles List

9 articles on this Page

-_..---------".---LLANTWIT…

News
Cite
Share

LLANTWIT SCHOLASTIC STEEPLECHASE. THE C'RECT CARD. PRELIMINARY CANTERS. DETAILS OF THE RACE ARRANGEMENTS. WITH DESCRIPTION OF THE "WOODEN SPOON." t: By Oliver Twist, Fellow of the Real Racing Society, M.R.C.V.S., D.C., C.C, SB, XYZ, Sporting Prophet, Etc. It is said that "imitation is the sincerest form of "flattery." and I suppose some folks think I ought to be gratified to find that the "Green Un" has been copying me as far as his amateur prophet could manage the task. Sad want of experience, how- ever, is shown by him in forecasting the list of entries. The greatest joke in his rigmarole is I the impossibility of fixing the identity of more than two of the horses, while the fact that his "prob- I able entries" number 13 when the Race Chrd shows only ten is fatal to his reputation, and should be a warning to him and others to act upon the good old maxim, "Never prophecy unless you know." But to come !to the preparations for the "grate -event." I may say that the preliminary canters have been followed with keen interest, horses and jockeys coming in for lively criticism, and a good deal of banter. But I wish it to be distinctly un- derstood. there is absolutely no betting going on, and the foolish stories about 30 and 40 to 1 are "all my eye and Betty Martin. The bookies are simply here for a picnic. Some of !them openly declare that the race looks more like a game of "odd man out" than an important steeplechase, but there will be what the country gentry usually describe as a capital day's outing, and, while the contents of the luncheon baskets are being de- molished, and the corks are made ito fly merrily about, the performances of the horses, and acci ents to the riders. can be comfortably watched. In the meantime left us take a. glanoe at the form •shown by the horses. "Limb of the Law" is a dark colt entered anony- mously. and riddein. by a jockey whose colours were difficult to spot in the twilighit, when he was cantering around Church Village, after his arrival from Sankey's Circus, where he had beeln performing before the Judge and other notabilities. This colt is a. descendant of one of the old Mail 'Coach Horses — the rattling old grey who took first place in the last triennial event at Llantwit, —and the youngster was successful as a yearling in -the Parish Council Stakes. His recent performance on the home course was highly creditable, but some people declare that his jockey was then de- termined he should win at all hazards, and, being a bit strong in the mouth, the colt is said ito have I pulled pretty hard at the finish. He certainly is in fine form now, holds his head well, shows speed and action. and is regularly cheered at Efail Isaf. well as by the Boya of the Village. Although he is a "dark horse" in more than one. sense, he has already shown pleta/fcy of "go" at flying leaps, and is a. sure winner. Indeed, he reminds me of the prize winner once owned bv Old Clifton, the -celebrated Lawyer. of Bristol. That horse would go round the course in a horse show without a. rider on his back just as well as Wl; one. Still, there may be some fun in store for spectafbora. The "Limb" may possibly shy a trifle in passing the disused shafts of the "Strip and At It," and the "Sure Snip" Co., and his rider will have to keep the colt's head straight when passing the wreck of the tiny little airpit which has damaged the green iturf of the Duffryn. Is backed by In- cline Rope, Baton, and The Man with the Muck Rake. "Primrose" is a thick-set, sturdy cob, accus- tomed to underground and surface work, useful in chain harness, and in the shafts. He was once -the leading horse of the Great Western team, and has seem a variety of services under different -owners. Can follow hounds, as a weight carrier; 'can stand fire like an old trooper; and is gentle ■and docile. But it is a case of being mounted by a gentleman rider, and Colonel Pheasant (formerly proprietor of the Old Snipes Pit) is riding him too hard*. The Colonel is fond of the double-barrel and he is training his mount for a double-barrelled -eVent, viz., the Guardianship Stakes, and the Dil- trict Council Cup. You know the old axiom, "'Tis the pace that kills," and "Primrose" is, 1 ,.am afraid, overstrained. But the absence of exer- tion during the last few mornings has suggested to some the idea that he is really being reserved for the coming Taces. This horse has been known to graze on the Establishment meadows, but he is not owned by the Bishop and Clergy, whose only vetttry in this race is "Book Qd Bell." It may be added that even the name he goes by is not borrowed from the Primrose League, because, like -most horses— "A primrose by the river's brim, A yellow primrose is to him, And it is nothing more." "Book and Bell," although a mountain pony purchaaedin Llangyfelach fair, was trained as a colt on the breezy heights of Pentyrch, and he ,111is lately been showing signs of rapidly-improving I condition, as might be expected on the luxuriant herbage to be found on the rich meadows of the Old Church Farm. He is fairly tender in the mouth; covers his ground well around itibe upland farms; is gentle with strangers, and good tem- pered with his grooms. He has been down on his know. but never been blemished by it; and aJ- though he shies at the water jump, has been accus- tomed to work very steadily in a. team with the Champion Water Jumper of the field. He clears with grace and ease the Thirty-Nine Articles, and was. until the end of last week. daily exercised in company with another Ecclesiastical horse of noted knee action, "Twenty-one Ton Gun." "Book and Bell" is certain of a good place. His chief backer, Ap Justice (an authority on horse- fllesh), will leave no "stones'' unturned to clear the course for him. while the owner of St. MM-tyn's will do the ahacrilfg.. > .Jffj v "The Councillor" is another mountaineer of the genuine Pentyrch breed. He is as hardy and fast as I a butcher's pony, and warranted good in single and I double harness, nas shown a clean pair of heels to more pretentious horses on several occasions, taking a good place in the last triennial race, and securing the prize in District Council Hurdle Han- dicap and the Guardianship Cup contest. Has shown plenty of grit in team work, and yet proved that he possessed a temper of his own when ac- cidentally shouldered aside by his comrades on the Sewerage Hunt some months ago. Has lately been driven in heavy cart harness, hauling bricks and mortar for the Exchange property in Llantwit, and. although not yett through the work, will doubtless finish in good time and keep up his train- ing for the week's event, so as to secure, as usual, I a good place. He is expected to make a spurt to I be first past the winning post, but "Book and Bell." and "Plunger," have to be reckoned with. "Councillor" is backed by Llyn Beithesda and Transit, ridden by the heavy-weight Guano, and is the prime favourite and only entry of the New- town Stud Co. "Plunger" is a, much taller horse than the last- named, and makes bolder jumps alt the deep water than any of the other entries. He ran well in the last triennial steeplechase, and has been leader of the Scholastic Team during 'the whole season. Has a good mouth, takes all the. Nonconformist gates like a hunter, and shows capital temper when working next to the Establishment horse; yet keeps perfectly straight in the furrow which his (owtner wants ploughed. His plunging is never indulged in on the road; it is confined to the waiter and is one of the innocent little tricks he acquired when a colt in the stables of John the Baptist. In short, cold water has no terror for him in any shape or form. He, too, has been seen down on his knees, but his limbs are not in- jured in the slightest degree. Bracketted with "Plunger" is another entry from the Salem Stable, viz.. "Caws Caerphilly," the chestnut hack, who failed to secure a place in the last race, but who has since been set to work, with considerable credit, in the Scholastic team. He is ridden by Ex-Member, backed by the Home Secretary, and cheered on the course by the Barry lads. who have all along kept an eye on him and the "Flying Dutchman." "Caws Caerphilly" is next to the "Plunger" in water-jumping powers, and is expected to pass the winning post this time, if he can keep close enough to his stable companion. He has had some experience in under- ground work, but his surface exploits are more re- liable tests of his pace and sfamina.. For a water-jumper it is peculiar that he should have so resolutely "bucked" and kicked at the horses that some time ago headed for the Reservoir, and a few old fogeys consider that he must have mistaken the depth of the pool. Still, he is game to the end, and neighs defiantly ait those who flourished the Divining Rod over the parish wells.. I "Milk" and "Sugar" are the twin entries of their patriarchal owner. Shon Gorph o'r Bryn, and though put down as "a pair, eacli of them has points which must be separately considered. n]k" is a recent acquisition to the stable, but has been known to work admirably in double har- ness with a water-jumper on the Maindy paddock, and the only (thing he shies at is the Ghost of Free Trade. "Sugar," on the other hand, is an old stager, whose performance over the Parish Council hurdles has made Tonteg famous in racing annals. Although not trained for fast work in his younger days he shows plenty of vitality. Has worked in a grocery cart and on the farm. As a "Pair." however, "Milk" and "Sugar" will have to avoid the water jump and make up for it by their exertions around the Basin, a little thing at which "Plunger" and "Caws Caerphilly" will most assuredly bol/t. Now, as to the jockeys, I can only remind you that "Milk" is piloted by Young Moneybags, who knows every inch of the ground from Tydraw to Tonteg; while "Sugar" is ridden by Sawdust and backed by Signal. There will, therefore, be no John Gilpin business about the riding. "Coch-v-Berllan" a. fine-built sixteen-hander, comes of an excellent stock, and is half-brother to "Pulpit Veteran." He is entered for the second time, by the Independia Stud Co. (Limitted), with a grim determination that the mistakes made on a former occasion shall not be repeated. He jibbed a little after the event, but, like "Caws Caerphilly," he was subsequently "bought in" by the proprietors of the Scholastic Team, and, he has done steady work in ploughing, harrowing, manuring, and general work connected with the cultivation of the "young idea." In view of the sprightliness of some of the new entries, and the fact that he has been more accustomed to steady labour than fast pacing, I shall watch his move- ments with deep interest. He is certainly sound in wind and limb, and possesses sufficient staying powers if his jockey gives him a loose bridle in- stead of pulling him up when facing an obstacle. Last. but by no means least, comes "The Flying Dutchman,—so called, not only on account of his speed and action, but also because of the excep- tional exercise he had last year when he was taken with a troop of other horses to Holland to practice the double-jumps and water-leaps over the "dams" of that distant country. It is significantly whis- pered tha.t Mia result of the regular training he had over the numerous "dams" of the Dutch, he does not now care a well, quite so. he does not care a button—for any water jump in the United Kingdom. Be that as it may, it is cer- tain he came back from the Netherlands with crest erect and in high spirits, like a Giant Refreshed, and has been displaying Continental colours on Stalte occasions, to the chagrin of the owners of horses of less experience and more limited training. He ran well as a yearling in the first Scholastic Steeplechase, and, after securing a good place, proved his mettle by several smart performances over the educational hurdles, admittedly beyond the anticipations of any except his most ardent backers. He is spirited, without being fiery-tem- pered, and runs on "independent" lines in more than one sense, for while he is the only entry from the green slopes of Efail Isaf, and as such in favour with the local Stud Co., he is legally inde-1 pend«nt of that company also. Yet his rider, the I ] Principal Agent of the only and original Earl of Duffryn (not the Claimant), secures for him the local backing of Yr Enwad; and, as blood is thick- er than water, it is wonderful how this horse's dis- tant relationship with the Wesleyan Methodist stable creajtes an interest in his movements. In- deed, he has a decided partiality for Methodism of another sort also, and it will do him no harm to say the least of it. Like "Limb of ithe Law." he does most of his preliminary cantering towards dusk, and he spends his days on the sea coast. Yes,-there is capital sport ahead of us, bust once more I warn all "Weichers" that there will be no betting. The breeders and trainers of this aristocratic and salubrious neighbourhood are, with one or two exceptions, steady, Sunday-go-to-meet- inz people, who are pledged to put down gambling. and who only indulge in racing for the purpose of improving the stamp of their horses. The event comes off on Saturday; the results of the judging will be ascertained first at the sec- retary's office, and then put on the telegraph at the Cottage Homes. Complete silence will have to be observed. No-one shall draw the Long Bow or practice long-range shooting while waiting for the decision, as the "targett" must be kept absolutely clear. for signalling the end of the day's proceed- ing bv the parting shot which will announce the winner of the Consolation Prize, a Wooden Spoon, upon which is beautifully carved the strikingly I appropriate legend, "Odd man out.

I IROYAL CLARENCF, THEATRE,…

THE HAFOD SCHOOL QUEST^N.

Advertising

LOCAL NEWS .-

RHONDDA PUPIL TEACHERS.

THE CANDIDATURE OF COUNCILLOR…

Advertising

COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTION.