Present-day Riders.
During the last decade race riding has undergone a complete change. The old-time seat has passed away in favour of the “Tod Sloan” position. Races are differently run, and the training of horses has altered. So far as jockeyship is concerned, the new style has its advantages over the old, as this style enables the escape of wind pressure, and the placing of weight more on the withers. Those who shorten their leathers within reason have a fair command of their horses, but the majority ride so short that the power to guide or control their mounts is often lost. The most skilful of our riders of this State during the last twenty years are W. H. M’Lachlan, Myles Connell, Albert Wood and K. Bracken.
Prominent Gentlemen Riders.
In the racing history of the colony gentlemen riders have played a prominent part. At the time of writing the oldest of those is the Hon. James Gormly, who finished fourth in the memorable Ten Miles Race at Wagga in 1868 on his own horse, Camel, and won many races in his youthful days. The late Mr. Phil Glennister was a noted horseman in his day, as was also Mr. W. P. Bowes. Captain Airey was a very fine horseman, also Messrs. W. Fowles, Harry Haines, Edward Terry, G. Mason, Coyle, W. Gosper, T. West, G. M. Bailey, W. Acraman, E. and A. Weston, M. Millen, Benson, A. Batty, G. Fagan, W. H. Pye and Dr. Cortis. Then in later days, at the Bligh and Tirranna Meetings, and at times at Randwick, we have seen some excellent riding performances accomplished by Messrs. E. M. Betts, A. M. Cox, S. B. Rouse, F. Nivison, H. Brown, E. A. Blomfield, F. Blomfield, Dowling, W. Beaumont, W. E. Manning, C. Stephen, W. E. White, Justine M’Carthy, K. Austin, C. R. Halloran, W. E. White, also Mr. Tom Watson prior to his settling in Sydney as our leading starter. The Watson family were all famous horsemen.
The Stutz literally raced its way into the confidence of the motor-loving public. The first Stutz Car was entered in the gruelling 300 mile race at Indianapolis in 1911. It made good in a day.
Additional racing laurels were won in 1912–13–14, and then came the phenomenal Stutz year, 1915, when the Stutz racing Cars won first and second in every big race, conquering the best Cars of two Continents.
At the close of 1915 racing season, when the principles of Stutz construction were fully proven, racing was discontinued by the factory. Stutz then metaphorically “went to stud.”
The result of these years of experience and experiments on the racecourse consumed in perfecting the 16 valve motor and the wonderful chassis were given to the public in Stutz Stock Cars. The same precision, thoroughness and efficiency that made Stutz a winner on the racecourse is evident in the popular and respected Stutz of to-day.