Father Riley’s Horse [poem by A.B. Paterson]

[Editor: This poem by “Banjo” Paterson was published in The Bulletin Reciter, 1901.]

Father Riley’s Horse.

’T was the horse-thief Andy Regan that was hunted like a dog
By the troopers of the Upper Murray side ;
They had searched in every gully — they had looked in every log,
But never sight or track of him they spied
Till the priest at Kiley’s crossing heard a knocking very late,
And a whisper, “Father Riley — come across !”
So his Reverence, in pyjamas, trotted softly to the gate
And admitted Andy Regan — and a horse !

“Now, it’s listen, Father Riley, to the words I’ve got to say,
For it’s close upon my death I am to-night;
With the troopers hard behind me I’ve been hiding all the day
In the gullies, keeping close and out of sight.
But they’re watching all the ranges till there’s not a bird could fly,
And I’m fairly worn to pieces with the strife ;
So I’m taking no more trouble, but I’m going home to die —
’T is the only way I see to save my life !

“Yes, I’m making home to mother’s, and I’ll die a Toosday next,
And be buried on the Thursday — and of course,
I’m prepared to meet my penance, but with one thing I’m perplexed,
And it’s — Father, it’s this jewel of a horse !
He was never bought nor paid for, and there’s not a man can swear
To his owner or his breeder, but I know
That his sire was by Pedantic from the old Pretender mare,
And his dam was close related to the Roe.

“And there’s nothing in the district that can race him for a step ;
He could canter while they’re going at their top.
He’s the king of all the leppers that was ever seen to lep
A five-foot fence — he’d clear it in a hop !
So I’ll leave him with you, Father, till the dead shall rise again ;
’T is yourself that knows a good ’un; and, of course,
You can say he’s got by Moonlight out of Paddy Murphy’s plain,
If you’re ever asked the breeding of the horse.

“But it’s getting on to daylight, and it’s time to say good-bye
For the stars above the east are growing pale ;
And I’m making home to mother ; and it’s hard for me to die !
But it’s harder still in keeping out of gaol !
You can ride the old horse over to my grave across the dip
Where the wattle bloom is waving overhead.
Sure he’ll jump them fences easy ; you must never raise the whip
Or he’ll rush ’em! now good-bye !” — and he had fled.

So they buried Andy Regan, and they buried him to rights,
In the graveyard at the back of Kiley’s Hill.
There were five and twenty mourners who had five and twenty fights,
Till the very boldest fighters had their fill.
There were fifty horses racing from the graveyard to the pub,
And their riders flogged each other all the while.
And the lashins of the liquor ! and the lavins of the grub !
Oh! poor Andy went to rest in proper style.

Then the races came to Kiley’s — with a steeplechase and all,
For the folk were mostly Irish round about,
And it takes an Irish rider to be fearless of a fall ;
They were training morning in and morning out.
But they never worked their horses till the sun was on the course,
For a superstitious story kept ’em back,
That the ghost of Andy Regan, on a slashing chestnut horse,
Had been training by the starlight on the track.

And they read the nominations for the races with surprise
And amusement at the Father’s little joke,
For a novice had been entered for the steeplechasing prize,
And they found that it was Father Riley’s moke !
He was neat enough to gallop, he was strong enough to stay,
But his owner’s views of training were immense.
For the Reverend Father Riley used to ride him every day,
And he never saw a hurdle nor a fence.

And the priest would join the laughter — “Oh,” said he, “I put him in,
And there’s five and twenty sovereigns to be won.
And the poor would find it useful if the chestnut chanced to win,
And he’ll maybe win when all is said and done !”
He had called him Faugh-a-ballagh, which is French for “Clear the course,”
And his colours were a vivid shade of green.
All the Dooleys and O’Donnells were on Father Riley’s horse,
While the Orangemen were backing Mandarin !

It was Hogan the dog-poisoner — old man and very wise —
Who was camping in the racecourse with his swag,
And who ventured the opinion, to the township’s great surprise,
That the race would go to Father Riley’s nag.
“You can talk about your riders — and the horse has not been schooled —
And the fences is terrific, and the rest !
When the field is fairly going, then ye’ll see ye’ve all been fooled,
And the chestnut horse will battle with the best.

“For there’s some has got condition, and they think the race is sure,
And the chestnut horse will fall beneath the weight ;
But the hopes of all the helpless, and the prayers of all the poor,
Will be running by his side to keep him straight.
And what ’s the need of schoolin’ him or workin’ on the track
Whin the saints are there to guide him round the course !
I ’ve prayed him over every fence — I ’ve prayed him out and back !
And I ’ll bet my cash on Father Riley’s horse!”

* * * * * * *

Oh, the steeple was a caution ! They went tearin’ round and round,
And the fences rang and rattled where they struck,
There was some that cleared the water; there was more fell in and drowned ;
Some blamed the men and others blamed the luck !
But the whips were flying freely when the field came into view
For the finish down the long green stretch of course,
And in front of all the flyers — jumping like a kangaroo,
Came the rank outsider — Father Riley’s horse !

Oh, the shouting and the cheering as he rattled past the post !
For he left the others standing in the straight ;
And the rider — well they reckoned it was Andy Regan’s ghost,
And it beat ’em how a horse could draw the weight !
But he weighed it — nine stone seven, then he laughed and disappeared
Like a Banshee (which is Spanish for an elf),
And old Hogan muttered sagely, “If it wasn’t for the beard
They ’d be thinking it was Andy Regan’s self!”

And the poor of Kiley’s Crossing gave their thanks at Christmas-tide
To the chestnut and his jockey dressed in green.
There was never such a rider — not since Andy Regan died —
And they puzzled who on earth it could have been.
But they settled it among ’em — for the story got about,
’Mongst the bushmen and the people on the course —
That the Devil had been ordered to let Andy Regan out
For the steeplechase on Father Riley’s horse !

A. B. Paterson.

Source:
A.G. Stephens (editor). The Bulletin Reciter: A Collection of Verses for Recitation from “The Bulletin” [1880-1901], The Bulletin Newspaper Company, Sydney, 1902 [first published 1901], pages 203-208