W H Stephens

The rejoicings over the success of the New South Wales horses in the intercolonial matches in October, 1857 at Flemington took a form agreeable to at least two of the parties concerned. Old Sydneyites who had taken up their abode in Victoria were determined that the horseman who had upheld the honor of the mother colony on a 'foreign field,' as it were, should not go unrewarded. Accordingly, some active spirits set about getting up a testimonial to Mr. John Higgerson, who had successfully steered Veno to Victory on the memorable October 3. Subscriptions were had for the asking, the result being that a very handsome gold-mounted whip was purchased for presentation to the successful jockey. The presentation was made on the stage of the Theatre Royal, at a performance given under the patronage of the Victoria Jockey Club 'and the Sydney sporting visitors.' The piece staged was an old-time melodrama, 'Fraud and its Victims,' a play we never hear of nowadays. The chief performer on the male side was an actor then new to Melbourne, Mr. W. H. Stephens, who earned for himself the nickname of 'Jockey' Stephens, through his capital performance of a jockey in some racing drama. In thosegood old racing days a 'laughable farce,' as the playbills had it, wound up the evening's performance. Between the play and the farce, Mr. Hamilton, of 'Bell's Life,' appeared on the stage, accompanied by Mr. Johnny Higgerson. Mr. Hamilton, in a neat and appropriate speech, made the presentation. The whip mountings were exquisite, and the gold band bore the inscription : —

'Presented to Mr. Johnny Higgerson,

Trainer and Rider

of G T. Rowe, Esquire's c g

Veno,

as a Memento of the Challenge Match.

October 3rd, 1857.'

Though it was Mr. Higgerson's first appearance on the boards of a theatre, his 'stage' being usually a four-wheeler, Mr. Higgerson was not amiss in his speech of thanks. The newspapers of the day did not report the speech, but I know that Mr. Higgerson said that Wellington did not feel prouder at Waterloo than he (Johnny Higgerson) did on Veno in the champion match. The owner of Veno, Mr. G. T. Rowe, who was in the dress circle, had to bow his acknowledgments of the applause which greeted him when recognised. The Sydney sportsmen and the Sydney press admitted that the Victorians took their defeat in a manly fashion, asserting that they would have better luck next time. The gold-mounted whip, the subscribers explained, was not presented as an acknowledgment of Veno's victory, but as a mark of esteem to Mr. Higgerson as a man of whom they were all proud, who did his best in the interests of his employer. Mr. W. H. Stephens, the 'other star' of the night, after a couple of years tearing the colonies, went to London, and became a most successful actor and manager, and was, I think, the first of a long list who having made a name in Australia, made fame and fortune in England.

As Tomboy, ridden by Sam Holmes, had conquered Veno, ridden by Higgerson, in one race at the meeting held immediately after the intercolonial matches, it was thought only right and proper that 'old Sam,' as he was known in after years when he kept the Horse and Jockey Inn, at Enfield on the Liverpool-road, N.S.W., should also have a presentation. This took the shape of a gold watch and chain and a purse of sovereigns. Anthony Greene was the spokesman, and Sam Holmes made a very neat speech. Tomboy was also to have 'shown' on the stage, but Mr. Greene had to apologise for the equine hero, stage fright, or something akin to it, having prevented Tomboy making his bow to the crowded audience at the Princess', for it was at that theatre that Mr. Holmes had his presentation. 'Fraud and its Victims' at the Royal had given way to 'Sardanapulus,' with Mr. G. V, Brooke in the leading part. It was announced as one of a series of performances prior to G. V. B.'s return to England. These announcements were frequently made, and an announcement of a final appearance by Mr G. V. Brooke, became a by-word as one of 'Coppins dodges.' On the night when the presentation was made to Mr Sam Holmes, the sisters Gougenheim—Joey and Adelaide— were playing in 'Court and Stage' supported by George Fawcett, who subsequently went to London and achieved success as an actor and playwright, under the name of George Fawcett Rowe, the latter being his real name.

If not actually on the night of the presentation to Mr. Holmes, it was on the night previous, that Joey, who was the more energetic of the sisters, made a bitter complaint that they, as 'stars,' had great difficulty in getting an opening in Melbourne, unless they accepted undignified terms. As Mr. George Coppin was absent from Melbourne, Mr. G. V. Brooke wrote the newspapers explaining the position. The agent of the sisters had written Mr. Coppin from Hobart Town offering their services at the Royal on certain terms, which we may suppose, from the tone of Mr. Coppin's reply, to have been, perhaps, exorbitant. Brooke gave a copy of Coppin's letter. There it was stated that the expenses were £600 a week! but that he would give the sisters £100 a week and two half-benefits, the engagement to be for a fortnight or a month. These terms, the sisters indignantly rejected, and gave themselves to the old wooden structure known as The Princess', in Spring-street. This old wooden 'Matchbox,' as it was named, had pit, stalls, and bores, and might hold £100 a night on a pinch. What terms they made with George Fawcett we know not, possibly share and share, after deducting a sum for expenses. Strange to say, the 'Old' Queen's' in Melbourne, the Princess' just mentioned, and an old theatre still standing in Durham-street, Bathurst, a relic of the roaring days of the Turon Diggings, and in which G. V. Brooke played, are the only ones, I am creditably informed, which have escaped destruction by fire.

Mr. Holmes, in acknowledging the gift of a watch and chain and a purse of sovereigns, was not to be outdone by Mr. Higgerson in similes; Mr. Holmes said that he was prouder of his position that night than Nelson at Trafalgar! Some little unpleasantness was hinted at over the race won by Tomboy. It was a sweep of 25 sovereigns with 100 sovs added. There were several starters, the principals being Van Tromp, Veno, and Mr. Purcell's Tomboy. Higgerson was on Veno, Waldock on Van Tromp, and Holmes on Tomboy, three as upright jockeys as ever threw leg over saddle. It was said that Holmes rode light, having got rid of some of his weight; and what pained the Victorians more than anything else was the fact that Messrs. Rowe and Atkinson believed it; and Sam Holmes was a Sydney man, too. Those who knew Sam Holmes will, I know, say that such a charge was simply ridiculous. The jockey weighed out and weighed in the same weight, and there was no opportunity, even if he wished it, to play hanky-panky with the weights between times. It may be mentioned that in this race Van Tromp was nowhere but in the race run half an hour afterwards he got second place.

Within the week in which the great Intercolonial Matches were run, the Victoria Jockey Club held, I think, its first meeting. This was the club of which Mr. J. M. Tarlton (U. S. Consul), Henry Phillips, George ???????, Edward Row were stewards, with Mr. W. P. Symons as secretary, and Mr. Richard Goldsbrough as honorary clerk of the course.

Just think of 'John Bull' Goldsbrough, 20 stone if an ounce, in starlet, and breeches, as clerk of the course! It was late in the season, and the horses were not in the best of condition, and the meeting was remarkable for the defeat of all the favorites.

The Intercolonial Matches seem to have given a zest to racing in Melbourne, the V.J.C. meeting on October 7, 8 and 9 being very largely patronised. Tattersall's newly founded rooms attracted a crowd, the regulations framed and the admission fee proving a barrier to a large number of noisy 'bummers,' who did no business and whose chatter, clatter and bounce had been intolerable. This 'push' had to content itself with the kerbstone when Tatt's was established. In the rooms the Sydney people were well represented, foremost amongst them being Mr. G. F. Pickering, editor and part proprietor of 'Bell's Life in Sydney.' It was noticeable that the Sydney contingent wagered only on Sydneyside horses.

The first race of the meeting was a Maiden Plate. Nine came to the post, amongst them a horse called Yankee, entered as a five-year-old, made first favorite, and backed heavily all through. This horse Yankee had done all his galloping as one of a team in Cobb and Co.'s coaches! The coaching crowd believed that they had found a wonder, but the result proved that Yankee was great at a mile, but no further. Though Joe Smith, a well-known rider of the time had the mount, he found his horse beaten at the mile. A horse with the Hibernian name Bathershins proved the winner, while Lady of the Lake, a sister of Alice Hawthorne, ran into third place.

Under the auspices of this club the Victorian Derby of 1857 was run. The entries were Mr. William Greene's Tricolor, Dr. Bathe's Vain Hope, Mr. Dawes' Union Jack, Mr. H. Phillips' Cavalier, Mr. E. Row's Melbourne, Mr. Payne's Skylark, and Mr. Davis' Marco. The added money was £150, the race being won by Tricolor, bred at Woodlands, the old home of Pomeroy Greene and his sons Rawdon and Molesworth. The winner had only been in Anthony Greene's hands for six weeks prior to the race. The Jockey Club Cup, £150 added money, brought a number of well known horses to the post, and was the cause of a special match being made between two of the runners. There were five entries: Mr. Warby's Cardinal Wiseman, Mr. A. Chirnside's Alice Hawthorne, Mr. John Sevoir's Sir Robert, Mr. B. D. Clarke's Camel, and Mr. Payne's Sinbad; welter weights, members of the Jockey Club up. Alice Hawthorne was the favorite against the field. The race was a two-miler, the winner turning up in Cardinal Wiseman, ridden by Mr. Rutland; Alice, with Mr. John Orr up, being second. That night at Tattersall's it was stated that Cardinal Wiseman's victory was only a fluke, and a match between 'The Churchman' and Alice was spoken of. On the following evening the match was made, the owners of Alice laying £1000 to £500, 2½ miles, welter weights, 12st 41b the horse, 12st 1lb the mare, to be run on the afternoon of the next day. Next afternoon the betting was 6 to 4 on Alice Hawthorne, which became firmer when it was known that Johnny Higgerson had the mount on the mare, and the 'gentleman jock,' Mr. Rutland, was to steer 'The Cardinal.' The start was a dead level one. Almost immediately the mare forged ahead, the Cardinal made an effort and passed the mare, the latter, however, got in front again, but Higgerson hauled off at the boggy ground under the hill, where the grandstand is now. Turning into the straight the pair were stride for stride, fighting for every foot; the mare was beaten by three lengths, in 3min 22sec. The horse Cardinal Wiseman surprised everyone. Mr. Warby had purchased him a few weeks before for 200 guineas, for stud purposes, but proving what horse masters call 'too playful,' he was given to one Bentley to train and make what he could out of him. It was now decided that Alice Hawthorne had seen 'her day.' In the first ten days of October, 1857, she had been tried four times, having as riders Steve Mahon, Mitchell, Johnny Higgerson and Mr. John Orr, and she failed to score a win with either up. All four riders gave the verdict 'out of form.'

The Victoria Jockey Club had a 'Great Metropolitan' as part of the programme. It was run on the second day, the added money being a modest 200 sovs. with a sweep of 15 sovs. The starters were: Veno (Higgerson up), Mr. Jenkins' Voltaire, Alice Hawthorne (with Mitchell up), Van Tromp, and five others, Veno and Alice went stride for stride from the start, when Veno went to the front, leaving Alice to fight for second place with Voltaire, who beat the mare by a head. The third day was wet, the entries being second and third rate, and the interest deadened by the absence of the 'big game.' At Tattersall's, at the settling up, everything passed off in first-class fashion. There were no complaints, because there were no defaulters. The bookmakers proper had not as yet become an institution, the betting being done between friends and by well-known sportsmen. Cash betting had not been thought of. Joe Thompson was but 20 years of age, and still in obscurity. The late Sammy Isaacs had not started 'pencilling' at Kirk's Bazaar. I think little Sammy, who 'pattered' for the fighting men at their booth at Flemington on race meetings, was the first recognised layer of the odds per book and pencil.

At the 'settling,' when the champagne had gone round, and everyone was satisfied with himself, his neighbor, and owner of Van Tromp, issued a challenge the world generally, Mr. William Frazer, to Victorian sportsmen, two challenges, in fact. The first was that he (Mr. Frazer) would find a horse in the Geelong district, which he would match against any other Victorian horse for 250 sovereigns, in six weeks' time, two miles, over the Geelong course. The second challenge was somewhat similar, the distance being 1½ mile, Mr. Frazer explained that both horses were strangers to the Flemington and Geelong racecourses. Nothing came of the challenges at the time. But while challenges were flying about Melbourne, new ground had been broken in Sydney. In 'Bell's Life in Sydney' appeared an advertisement worded after this fashion :— A gentleman from Ipswich, Moreton Bay (there was no Queensland then), will back his horse, Newbolt, against the champion of Australia or any horse in the colony (New South Wales, which included everything north of Gabo lighthouse), for nothing less than 500 to 1000 sovereigns, £250 allowed either party removing his horse to either turf. Stakes ready at the Willow Tree Inn, Pitt-street. No deposit but cash down. Match to be made in four weeks, the race run in three months from this date. October 17, 1857. An answer expected by Saturday, as the gentleman is about to leave the colony. No race within 22 days of the horse landing at either post. I don't think the Sydney sportsmen paid much heed to the gentleman from Ipswich, who had such a high opinion of his horse Newbolt.

A coincidence, surely! While I was writing about the Edouin family ('Sportsman,' 27/4/'04) and Cremorne one of the family, Mrs. G. B. W. Lewis nee Rose Edouin, was on her way to pay a professional visit to Sydney, and the lady is now in our midst.

The Mr. Warby mentioned above belonged to an old— very old— Campbelltown (New South Wales) family, which had a big interest in certain valuable Sydney properties. The old Yorkshire Stingo Hotel, at the corner of Castlereagh and Goulburn streets, was an heirloom of the family. Likewise the old Liverpool Arms, at the corner of King and Pitt streets, a house dating back to the old 'lag days' of the colony, but which, when rebuilt, had its name changed to 'Warby's.' I believe it has now passed out of the Warby family.