DEATH OF MR. T. L. WILSON

Chronicle (Levin), 31 March 1947, Page 2

DEATH OF MR. T. L. WILSON

Many raeing folk were saddened on Saturday when they learned of the passing of Mr. T. L. Wilson, . one of New Zealand 's best known raeing personalities, after an illness extending over the best. part of a year. Luke, Wilson was a colourful ligure, first as a brilliant rider, and later, as a suceessful trainer. His death, though it was not unexpected, would come as a sliock to those near and dear to him and tlie sympathy of a very wide circle of friends wrill go out to his widow,- and to his three children, Mary, Beverley and Stirling. Luke Wilson gained his introduction to the raeing game when he was apprenticed to Mr. ,W. J. J'orgeuson, of Wellington. In those days Mr. Jorgenson had a teaiu of horses in trainiiig on the old Hutt racecourse. It was on The Youcher, at Martinborough, in Deceniber, 1905, that Luke won his lirst race.

Wlien Mr. Jorgenson retired from raeing to take up hotel-keeping, Luke Wilson became second joelcey to the stable of S." Waddeil, in Hawke's Bay. Waddell was training for tlie Hon. J. D. Ormond, and F. D. Jones was the stable 's lirst horseman. After four years with tliat stable Luke linked up •with Fred Davis, at Greenmeadows. Two years later he accepted an offer to do the riding for Mr. E. J. Watt. During the period he was riding for those powerful Hawke 's Bay stables, Luke had an unbrolcen string of successes, including many of New Zealand 's major races with, the New Zea-1-and and Wellington Cups in the same year. In 190S he won the Wellington Cup on Moloch,-and in November of tlie same year, he won the New Zealand Cup for Mr. T. II. Lowry on Downfall. In 1911 he won the C.J.C. Jockey Club Haudicap for J. D. Ormond on Forniby and 12 nionths later he won the event again for the same owner on llaskayne. That season was. u niemorable oue for Luke. He won tlie Canterbury Cup on Goldlinder, the New Zealand Cup on Midnight Sun, and the Wellington Cup on Undecided. On the second day of' tliat C.J.C. meeting in 1912 he follovved up a win on Ventnra in tlie Juvenile Plate by sliaring the; houours in tlie Canterbury Cup, in which his mount, Goldlinder, deadlieated with tlie inighty " Bobrikolf, ridden by F. D. Jones. .Riccarton was ahvays a lucky course for Luke. ln tlie following year he won tlie Welcome Stakes on Downfall. A year later he won the Canterbury j Cup and tlie G. O. Stead Cup Jn Reputation, a horse on which he won the Hawke's Bay and Wanganui Guineas. At one meeting at Riccarton in .1912 he rode seven wiuners. In 191-3 Luke pilotcd Clieddar to victory iu tlie Thompson Haudicap, aud aniong other notable victories were tlie A.R.C. Easter Haudicap on Vcntura, tlie G.N. Derby on Reputation, and the C.J.C. Easter Haudicap on Rcval. Luke Wilson 's introduction to the ranks of traitiers was not uneveiitful. Sliortly after taking over as a trainer for Mr. W. Richmond, lie took over tlie horses of J. M. Cameron, who had gone into cauip, only to t'ollow in the latter's footsteps hiniself. ln 1919 he discarded his uniform and took over the horses of the powerful Douglas stables. Among tlie horses through liis hands were Mailioa, Hetaua, Early Dawn and The Hawlc. During the 1920-21 season tlie stable won close on £12,000. in stake money, of ivhich Mailioa won £54.80. The Hawk, tlien a tvvo-year-old, won £2(510, and Early Dawn £1840. When tlie Douglas Estate ceased raeing, Luke took over the horses of Wilfrod fStead, at Greenmeadows. Tliej majority of tliem were takeii io Australia and when Luke returned lie trained Father 's Voice with success l'or Lady Jellicoe. That was in the 1923-24 season. " Luke also trained for J. 8. MeLeod and during three years won about £10,000 in stakes. PrLor to inoving lo Awapuni in 1932, Luke had Pillow I'iglit, Princess Doreen and Catalogue under his care at Flaxmere. Pillow Fight later .was bought by D. J. 'Davis, who took Pliar Lap to Ainerica, and tlie other two came to I Awapuni. After tlie death of W. j 8tone, of Te Awamutu, Luke took over Mr. II. II. Pharazvn 's horses, and it ; was with Old Bill, ridden by G, R. ' lattersall, tliat lie won tlie Wellington) CentenniaJ Cup. Luke was a kindly maii and he loved his horses. There were many who ■ claimed lie would have won more races had lie been hardcr on his horses in training. Oue thiiig never disputed was that no horses ever looked better! than those in Luke's charge.