34 ON AND OFF THE TURF. 



race in the Melbourne Cup, finishing fourth to Tar- 

 coola, Carnage, and Jeweller; he also landed the 

 Melbourne Stakes, after a desperate finish with New- 

 man. It was reported that Mr. O'Brien had an offer 

 of 2000 guineas made for the colt, but he informed me 

 such was not the case. I fancy that price would have 

 tempted him to part with the son of St. George. 



Mr. O'Brien's experiences have been varied, and 

 when chatting in his snuggery, surrounded by pic- 

 tures of famous horses he has owned and cups 

 and trophies he has won, the time passes quickly 

 enough. In the days when Mr. O'Brien was riding 

 in New Zealand, racing was far different to what it is 

 now. He had his ups and downs, and was glad 

 enough at times to land a hack race. 



On one occasion there were three starters in a hack 

 race in which he rode. The favourite was, of course, 

 considered a real good thing, but the best laid 

 schemes occasionally go wrong. 



When the jockey on the favourite saw one of the 

 other horses was going to beat him, he coolly leaned 

 over and pulled his opponent out of the saddle. 



'^Even then he didn't win," said Dan O'Brien, 

 with a chuckle, '^as I came up on the other side and 

 beat him.'^ 



Trainers are great believers in the time test when 

 trying horses in the Colonies, and all sorts of devices 

 are resorted to in order to put the clockists out. 



