St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-09-29
AMONG The HORSES.
Romance Surrounding the
Great Australian Race
Horse Sir Modred.
a Bank Official Ruined and
Disgraeed by His Being
Scratched.
Rich Purses Hung Up by the
Superior Driving Park
Association.
Horse News From Various
Places All Over the
Country.

the Breeder and Sportsman: "Sir
Modred was not bred in Australia. but
in New Zealand. He was foaled at the
Middle Park stud near Auckland, and
got by Traducer. out of the imported
mare Idalia, by Cambuscan, her dam
Dulcibella. by Voltigeur. Cambuscan
won the July Stakes of 1868. and was an
important winter favorite for the Derby
of the following year, although he ran
unplaced. Dulcibella won the CeSare-
witch in a field of twenty-seven starters,
and the great Yorkshire handicap from
sixteen others. Cambuscan is the sire of
Camballo, who won the 1900 guineas of
1875. Traducer, the sire of Sir MOdred,
was the best stallion imported into New
Zealand, always barring Musket. and |
must put him down as the best expo
nent of the NewminSter blood III the
colonies. He also got Welcome Jack,
great performer under the heaviest
weights; Cheviot. owned by DR.. Ross,
OF San Francisco, and score OF lesser
lights, all good ones to go. He was as
good a racer as they ever make. The
course was never too long nor the pace
too hot. At two years old he won the
Champagne stakes at Dunedin. In his
three-year- old form he won the Canter-
bury Derby. Dunedin Cup and Railway
Plate, and was beaten half length in
mile-and-a-half race. conceding thirty
nine pounds to Lady Emma. a well-tried
mare. At four years he was of little or
no account. and won but one race
out of seven starts. At five years
old he beat the great crack Malua,
Melbourne Cup winner. who did two
miles in 3:3G75, with 1876 pounds up.
He had now passed into the hands of a
Sydney contractor named Proffitt, who
was about as INSCRIPTIONS man as
you could easily find. He was entered
in the principal events of 1884, includ-
ing the Melbourne Cup as well as the
Metropolitan States and Craven Plate
at Sydney. At this time there was
man named Boult, New Zealander.
employed as caShierO of the Branch Bank
of New Zealand at Sydney. He had
backed several winners of important
races, and, like most men of that class,
did not Know when to quit. He used
the banks money to play Sir Modred
for nearly 10000. Proffitt was sur
prised to find his horse steadily advanc-
ing in the betting quotations for the
Melbourne Cup, despite the fact that
the stable money had not yet been
placed on him. He traced this backing
directly to Boult. One day he came
into the bank and asked for a loan of
$4,000, but was told he would have to
put ! up more collateral. He then
charged B0ult with having forestalled
him in the betting, and Boult denied it.
Profiitt then threatened to scratch Sir
Modred for the Melbourne cup. Boult
laughed at him, and TOLD him he dared
not do it. Proffitt walked down to the
telegraph Office and sent a dispatch to
Byron Moore, secretary Of the Victoria
Racing club, to scratch Sir Modred.
The affair created profound sensation
over the whole continent, and popular
Indignation rose TO boiling pitch.
Proffitt was accused of dividing profits
with the bookmakers, and. whether the
accusation was true or false, has borne
a very shady reputation ever since.
Bout came out of it badly enough. 1
assure You. With Sir Modred out of it,
he hunted up another horse to back land
invested as much more on Commotion,
who ran second TO Malua. This created
heavy defalcation, and Boult was con-
victed and sent to DarliDghurst Jail for
twelve years. 1t was just at this point
that Sir Modred's brilliant career be-
gan. The old trainer was so disguised
at the scratching that he DIT once threw
any attendant whatever. Four days
after the scratching took place
the great Metropolitan, two miles,
was to be run at Randwick
Sir Modred had not had canter in the
meantime. Profit took the big horse
out himself and gave him two slow miles
in the morning. Sir Modred had a belly
on him like brood mare, but he went
out that afternoon and made holy show
of his company, with odds of to l
against him. He carried 122 pounds,
and won in common canter by three
lengths in $685. Two days later he
beat Malua and twelve others for the
Craven Plate, one and quarter miles,
in 2:1014, and held hard at that. From
that time out he was so loaded down
with weight that victory was impossible.
In 1855 he was sold to ID. F. Mackay, of
Singleton, where he stood one season
and got Ant@us, Sir William and CAM
den, all good performers. Sir William
won the HawkesDury handicap last
April i'll such way as to make him
prominent feature for the next Caul-
field cup, and he is horse that will
take lots Of beating, and Ant@us is a
colt of great speed and high quality
that has won several good races. The
Strangest part of the story is the Subse-
quent experiences of Boult, because it
Is the only case know where the prose-
cution, after having thrown a man into
prison. were the principal factors in
trying to get him out. 1t seems that the
signature Of man in prison is of no
value on a deed, and Bouit had got some
real estate in Sydney which. during
his term of incarceration, had be-
come valuable-.nearly enough to
pay off the amount of his defalcation.
Applications were made to the governor
uord CarrIngton) for his pardon, but
for long time without avail. The gov
ernor said that it could not be pleaded
in his behalf that he was INDECENT, and
committed his crimes through the press
ure of poverty. On the contrary, he
had liberal salary, and could easily
have lived Oh it had he kept down his
mania fol turf speculations. So Boult
remained in Jail till October, 1899
About that time the bank people got
strong pull upon tho governor that
Lord Darlington set him free, but very
reluctantly. He is now in London, Z
confidential adviser at the head Office OF
the bank. Its financial affairs are in
none too good condition, and, as Boul
is more converSant with all its colonia
transactions than any other man alive
they have need of him. Yes, he gets {
good salary, and doesn't play any more
horses. 1t is good lesson. in two parts
First. not 10 play races with other PEG
pies money, and secondly, not to bacl
any horse for any large amount till you
find out whether the owner ha.
made his own book all right. 81
sometimes seems to me that every
thing painful or tragical must bt
surrounded with something absolutely
ridiculous. The present instance was M
exception, for when Boult found him
self defauIter, with penitentiary
staring him in the face, he resolved
upon flight. If he could only reach
Brisbane in time to catch the steamer
for Calcutta he could leave her at Sour
abaya and be comparatively safe from
arrest. Accordingly, he left Sydney OF
a night train, disguised as a Catholic
priest, and got off at Newcastle, where
he lay till the next morning brought