Manasseh Ward - sportsman

Christopher Sly's trophies, won on 
successive days.

In his younger days, Manasseh Ward was an active sportsman. He was an active participant in the annual Brisbane Water regatta, which was a big event in an area largely dependant on sail for trade and transport. He also played cricket for teams in Kincumber and Gosford and was known as a big-hitting batsman. In 1935, local historian George Fletcher proposed a team of cricketing greats who would represent Brisbane Water in Paradise – 'with our beloved Manasseh Ward as umpire'.

He held a marksman certificate with the Rifle Club and participated in swimming competitions. 

But the pastime that gave Manasseh the most pleasure was horse racing. He trained and rode his own horses at first, but in later times his wife's uncle, Charlie Wallbridge trained Manasseh's horses. Various local drivers and jockeys would ride the races. In later years Manasseh's son Roy Ward would drive his trotting horses.

Manasseh owned one horse named 'Cristopher Sly' that stands out. The story goes that this horse had endless energy and was difficult to control. At one race meeting at Blue Gum Flat (now Wyong), they lined up the horses for the start of the race. Christopher Sly broke before the starter's gun and bolted around the course. He did eight laps of the one mile track before the jockey could pull him up. They lined him up with the field again and this time, the starter got them away cleanly. It was another lap of the course and despite already having done eight miles, Christoper Sly won the race! Charlie Wallbridge was proudly leading him in when a comedian in the crowd called out to Manasseh, 'What do you feed that horse on Ward'. Before Manasseh could answer, Charlie Wallbridge quipped ' Nine mile blankety corn mate' (the actual word used was somewhat more colourful than blankety)..

In October 1884, Christopher Shy won the Benson Cup and the Edward Walmsley Cup on successive days, winning two ornate silver trophies (pictured above). These trophies are still in the family to this day and their engravings prove that the tale is true.

As with other aspects of his life, Manasseh was heavily involved in organising and managing racing activities. It was not unusual for him to act as both the starter and the the supervisor of the final weights at the finish of the race. He would fire the starting gun, then leap onto his pony and ride hell-for-leather across the racecourse to the weighing-in place to be ready to weigh the winning jockey.