The Gallop of Christopher Sly

Watercolour painting by WA Carson showing the 
Blue Gum races about 1886.
Courtesy of Central Coast Council.

I mentioned a few weeks ago that Manasseh Ward owned an interesting racehorse called Christopher Sly. This week I discovered a poem written about Christopher Sly's most notorious race - at the Blue Gum Flat Races. The painting right depicts the scene in 1886, which was within a few years of when the events in the poem occurred.

For interpretation, Blue Gum Flat later became known as Ourimbah. 'Prad' was slang for a horse.

The Gallop of Christopher Sly 

By Jack Robley

Manasseh at sport was a recognised daddy, 

Who owned a dashed prad that could jolly well fly ; 

And Jockey Bob Campbell, a braw Scottish laddie, 

Was the chap that was riding old Christopher Sly

In the race up at Blue Gum of which I am singing, 

When the old hands brought dozens of thoroughbreds up, 

And all at Ourimbah could hear the cheers ringing 

As the horses were saddled to race for the Cup. 

Two miles was the distance the champions were racing, 

No "dead 'uns" were entered, for all had a try ; 

The betting was heavy, and shrewdies were placing 

Much gold on the favourite — Christopher Sly. 

Old Darby was riding a mare called Allanah, 

George Taylor was mounted on Tuggerah's Pride ; 

Pat Humphries rode Clyde in a work-manlike manner,

While Joe Lee on Whisper showed how he could ride. 

Bill Henry was there with the Terrigal Trimmer, 

Alf Jaques came along with old Glistening Toy ; 

Ned Wamsley had entered his Doreen and Glimmer, 

Abe Davis relied on Australian Boy. 

But just as the "Go-To-The Post'' bell had sounded, 

And riders were ready to answer the call ; 

Old Chris got a scare and away the horse bounded, 

Scattering stewards, spectators and all. 

Five times round the course he went L for leather, 

In spite of Bob's efforts to pull the steed up ; 

His backers were very soon howling together, 

What possible hope had they now in the Cup ? 

But, friends, let me tell you, the horse was a wonder, 

And at length when they started the field in the race ; 

He very soon made his opponents go under, 

And he won by two lengths with his terrible pace.  

The races at Blue Gum Flat were seemingly run over two days and it was not unusual for a horse to compete on both days and even in several races on the same day. The papers published the results for the 1883 and 1883 races:

• In 1882, Christopher Sly was in third place in race 2 on the first day, Then ran first in the 4th race on day 2.
• In 1883, Christopher Sly beat Tarquin in race 2 on the first day, but was beaten into second by Tarquin in both the second and third races. Tarquin and his jockey were subsequently disqualified for six months for 'dishonest practices'.
• In 1885 he ran second races on both days.