Globe (Sydney, NSW : 1885 - 1886), Saturday 13 March 1886, page 8


STABLE GOSSIP. BY EARLY BIRD. IV. MR. JOHN DRISCOLL'S STABLES. While considering "who would be the next" to dwell upon in these articles, it struck me that the best thing to do would be to hark back to some of the old turf identities, and my choice fell upon the gentleman above mentioned. There is scarcely any of those who are associated with the turf at the present day who is so well known as Mr. John Driscoll; and in looking over back files I find his name dotted down here and there like mile stones by the wayside. John Driscoll is a native of Sydney, his father, the late Mr. Timothy Driscoll, having arrived in this colony fifty years ago, and was looked on as one of the strongest men of his day in the city. He took a lively interest in horses, and at the time of his demise, was the proprietor of livery and bait stables in Castlereagh Street. By reference to back dates I find the subject of this gossip figuring in the saddle thirty years ago, long before Randwick race course was thought of, but in the good old days of Homebush, when the old stage coach and old-fashioned cart were brought into requisition to convey passengers and tourists to the scenes of action. Mr. Driscoll has started again on the turf, after having been almost absent from it for a number of years, and is now located in Arthur Street, Surry Hills. I find him riding as far back as the days of old Courriman and Ackbar. Two names which will be well remembered by many of my readers who witnessed horse-racing in those times. Driscoll was the winner of the first Maiden Plate ever raced for on Randwick, having succeeded in getting Planet home first in that contest. After a terrible struggle in another race on Jonathan Wild, he was defeated by that great horse Strop, who was ridden by George Cutts, and who is now well-known in New Zealand as a trainer. He first made his appearance on the turf in Mr. Thomas Ivory's colours, the well-known blue jacket and straw cap, in which he appropriated many of the good things which were going in those times. He is the only man who can lay claim to having won the big double, viz., the Metropolitan and Melbourne Cup, which he secured on Mr. De Mestre's Tim Whiffler, in 1867. He was very fortunate on Flying Doe, Young Morgan, and Mr. Onus' Shamrock. Coming along through the files I find him successfull on Regno (Mr. A. Towns), and also with Judge Cheeke's fast three quarter of a mile pony Dundee. " Augur," writing of his performances at a Wagga meeting of the early times, says:--" The struggle for victory between Driscoll on Emperor, and Yeomans on Liberty, was one of the keenest I have ever witnessed, and was worth going all the distance to see." Other writers of those days are also lavish with their praise of his horsemanship. He appears to have made a decided hit at Bathurst when he defeated Mr. John Tait's Melbourne with Llama. He also won the Champagne and Nursery handi caps with Fireworks, when Little Fish, the property of Mr. P. Keighran, was such a hot favourite, and was ridden by Morrison. He also won the first two races with Fireworks which that horse ever secured. There is something pleasant when one looks back and finds the well-known names of early performers, and associated with Mr. Driscoll. I see such renowned land marks struggling for victory in the saddle as Jimmy Ashwort, Joe Kane (now fast becoming the favourite starter, and if energy, determination, and a thorough knowledge of his business are essentials, then this gentlemnan is possessed of these qualifications. Then we come across Higgerson, George Thompson (Squeaker as he was familiary termed, and one of the best horsemen of his day. Sam Holmes, Billy Ford, Tom Willis, George Donnelly, Dick Snell, Harry Hughes of Bathurst, Mat Scott of Maitland, and now a bonifaco. I find a record also of a very severe accident to Snell, whereby he was nearly killed off Smyra, and Driscoll won the race on Judge Cheeke's Alfred. Kane was Yattendon's jockey, while Driscoll used to steer Tim Whitller; and George Thompson Rose of Australia. Upon relinquishing the turf he started in the public-house line in Oxford street, and afterwards sojourned to Wagga WVagga. He has only three horses at present, and judging from appearances, they all seem to be 18 carat. One thing I took particular notice of was that he provides his animals with sawdust bedding, and in my private opinion it is not a bad idea either during the hot summer months, as it stands to reason that it must be much cooler than straw, besides providing a good soft bedding. It will be seen that he has had wide-spread opportunities of becoming master of his business, and as he had determined to have nothing but first class cattle under his care, it should not be long before his name as a trainer should stretch as far and wide as it did as a jockey. The first colt I inspected was a real fine upstanding chestnut gentleman, 2 years, by Henchman from Glenshoe, own sister to Glencoe. He stands close on 10 hands high, and has the appearance of a 4 or 5-year-old, and if he ever gets his head in front of his field, he will take a lot of beating. He is a beautifully coloured colt, and is as quiet as can be. The next was an aristocratic young fellow by Somnus from Gossimer, Gossimer by Yelverton from Prunella, by Chatter box from Atalanta. The sire of this youngster also claims that sterling little mare Tempe, who recently secured the Anniversary Handicap and Tattersall's Cup, and should, on public running, also have won the Carrington Stakes. He is a very dark brown, and were it not for his colour he resembles Brown and Rose so much in shape and make, that one could scarcely tell them apart. She, too, is by the same horse. This colt was in physio, and will shortly be called on to show himself, when I hope to be able to give a good account of him. The only other occupant of the stables in the thoroughbred line was a brown horse recentl]y brought down the country, by Goldsborough from a Panic mare, and it is anticipated that he will appear in the hurdle races. He is a fine strong horse, and is reported to be a splendid jumper, and perhaps we may hear from him before long.