DEATH OF R. J. MASON

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 223, 14 May 1932, Page 5

DEATH OF R. J. MASON

fPress. Assn.—

trainer of gloaming and other famous horses RECORD ALMOST UNIQUE

-By Telegraph — Copyright).

CHRISTCHURCH,. Eriday. The death is announced of Mr. R. J. Mason, the well-known horse trainer, at the age of 79 years. No trainer in New Zealand or Australia can show such a record as Mr R. J. Mason, who, for about twenty years was private trainer to the late Mr. Geo. G. Stead, the most prominent owner of his day in the Dominion. Mr. Mason was born in Wellington in 1853, and was edueated there. > In 1887 he accepted the position of trainer to Mr. G.' G. Stead, and a wonderful combination resulted, horses from the stable winning nearly all the principal races in New Zealand. Among those Mason .trained were: Russley, Lochiel, Maxim, Sextant, Gipsy King, Beresford, Scot's Grey, Libel, Enid, Tempest, Medallion, Aldershot, Stepniak, Reynard, New Forest, Ich Dien,; Reflector, Bluefire, Bloodshot, Roman,off, Musketry, Mannlicher, Mauser, Epaulette, Uniform, Bombshell, Conqueror, Screw Gun, Formosan, St. Ilario, Cruciform, Field Battery, Royal Artillery, Menschikoff, St.; Michael, Orloff, Helen Faueit, ..Machine Gun, Seige Gun, Silkworm, : Golden Lily, Rubia, Grand Rapids, Martian, Nightfall, Munjeet, Savoury, Noctuiform and Golden Slipper.

Mr. Mason frequently took teams to Australia for Mr. Stead and won many of the most important races at Randwick in the spring, including the Derby. Breeders' Plate, Gimcrack Stakes arid weight-for-age events. In 1908 Mr. Stead died and Mr. Mason then became private trainer to Mr. G. D. Greenwood, of Canterbury, for whom he trained numerotis winners, including the famous Gloaming, who was the highest stake earner at one stage in New Zealand "and Australia. It is a coincidence that the old champion only predeceased his trainep hy a few days. Biplane, Danube, Miss Mischief, , and Honour were among others he trained. for Mr. Greenwood.