'It is not too much to say, after reading Mr Mackay's rhymes of bush and turf, that we have one who gives promise of being rightly called a "poet-rider". Mr Mackay is well known upon the turf as a good unprofessional rider... He has the real poetic touch as well. His verses are just what they profess to be - bits of music and incident born of the life which they seek to portray...He frankly acknowledges having been saturated with Gordon's singing, and with perhaps having unconsciously fashioned his lines after his brilliant prototype. He dedicates his verses to the memory of Gordon, and does it in a manly and honest way...The bush rhymes in the book are as good, if not better, than the racing bits; notably "The Muster" and "Skeleton Creek", both of which have been published in the Sydney Mail...but he is neither commonplace nor wanting in qualities that go to make up the good artist...'