NOT ALTOGETHER LUCK

NZ Truth, Issue 1176, 14 June 1928, Page 11

NOT ALTOGETHER LUCK

Knowledge Has Playecl Its Part In Henderson's Successes

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Representative.) • It cannot be denied that Sam Henderson has had a wonderful trot of "ins" as a horseman the last couple of seasons.

/"■ERTAINLiY luck has played some ; Still, we are living in an age of re - V^ part in providing the right mounts cords and anything may be possible if at the right time to swell, his per- the right methods are adopted by riders centage receipts. . in .quest of fame ,and the hard cash Still, it has not teen all luck that has attached thereto'. . . : ' brought about Henderson's success, for "Henderson, who has reached his: 34th his studied knowledge of EUeralle race- year, first took. to the riding 1 'business paths— and the placing of. euch knowr in 1908, when he was apprenticed to D. ledge to advantage— has had quite a Moraghan at Ellersiie. ••'... lot to do with many of his successes Later he completed .his term with in obstacle events. •:.■..'- George Delaney at Peildirig and finally Great Northern Hurdles* both on the flat and over hurdles. - But it was in cross-country event* S a he could really go to at the Great Northern meeting' that. scaieat./.0. Henderson shone as a more "heady" Among the numerous winners on the

rlder than most of his fellow-horse-men. And he shpne mostly because he knew .the track perfectly. -• .Time- /was when John Bae,' and later his . son, . "Burt," were fully entitled to claim credit for saving every available inch of, ground possible In a steeplechase at Elierslie. That pair now have a serious rival for the honor in Henderson, whom ; it was a pleasure to watch — not, only on Glendowle, but also on Kamehameha in ' both his minor steeplechases at the big: fixture. ■ '. He. was in the .money -.in each of. his five rides over the -hill. This achievement Tirne . in Tin " ams* 11

measure due to "Sam" tieing well acquainted with ' the shortest route and taking every advantage of his knowledge. J ' . .■.■....■■"■■• That knowledge can never be gained Without careful study of the track. If other hurdle horsemen wish to.aspire to the heights to whjch Henderson has elevated himself, they must first of all acquaint themselves with the course conditions; and learn to put their knowledge' into action. - , Itiseasy to study the shortest route at Eller'slie in a. steeplechase if jockeys only realize that it is worth while. It has' proved so in Henderson's 'case, i ' - .■■;■■-■■■.■•■; Of . course, those who follow on are set no easy task to head off Henderson's register of four wins in a Great Northern Steeplechase; in fact, -itvwould not be surprising. . > if hia wcqcpl jtfsosl X?/ aU Wm?'

flat which he has steered may, be 'mentioned i . Tanadees (Auckland Cup), , - Li o mint (Cornwall Handicap), Henry Clay (Stratford Cup. and Christmas Handicap, N.P.), Rew.ipoto (Malohe Memorial, .Stratford), Sir Antrim (Waverley Cup), ■■-' an d Some Boy (Plumptori , Han d i cap, Avondale) v Over obstacles, Henderson has a longr list of successes,' including the following important events: ' Great Northern Steeples: Gluepot, Mary . Bruce, Beau Cavalier, Glendowie. ■'••': . . ••-<■' ' Autumn Steeples, Ellersiie: Gluepot, Troublesome. Winter Steeples, Ellersiie : Trbuble-

some, Goroglen and Glendowie. ! 'Great ..Northern v Hurdles: ■ Beau Cavalier. ' , '.' . ; Grand National Steeples; Lochella, Beau Cavalier.. • ' 'Wellington Steeples: Beau Cavalier. Wanganui Steeples: Gluepot. '..'■, ■ Winter, Hurdles, Wellington* \ l#ar.corii. ■ „ '. .:■ ■. .'" : . ■Y . • ■,■ . \ '■''.'■' ■ Hawlces Bay Hurdles: .Thrace. . Henderson, who is a befledlct boasts ing ' three .. daugrhfers,' al-yvays '.' regards Tanadees in the Auckland. Cup , as. the victor^ wiiicli • gave him the most .pleasure— so- much, so, in fact t^at-he named ,hi s bungalow regidence in Panmure :Road, Bllerslie, after- the gelding. Henderson's riding cheque for the recent Great Northern meeting, totted up to £433-r-or £84 above that of last year, which 'wa-s the record riding cheque received at a Dominion gatherlUß* '"'■'■■:-'.:■'■