Jockey and Trainer Premierships

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 81, 27 June 1927, Page 6

Jockey and Trainer Premierships

INTERESTING POSITION D. WITHERS AND M. EDWARDS When D. Withers saluted the judge on three occasions at Ashburton, an honour not enjoyed by his colleague M. B. Edwards, the gold-mounted whip associated with * the competition for leading horseman was regarded as a certainty for Withers. When the two Canterbury reinsmen arrived to take part at the Auckland function, Withers had a lead of three and a-half points of Edwards. Neither won a race on the first day of that fixture, but on Wednesday Edwards’s mounts led home their fields on two occasions, with the result that the score now stands at: Withers 30, Edwards 28i. POSITION INTERESTING With four trotting events yet to be decided, interest in the contest is heightened, and while both horsemen may appear to be little concerned about the ultimate result, their friends can rest assured that they are keen to achieve the distinction of being at the head of their profession for the season. Whoever wins, considerable credit is due to him, for both Withers and Edwards are held in high esteem both as horsemen and as citizens, and irrespective of the actual victory they are to be complimented upon the splendid records they have established. LEADING REINSMEN D. Withers was for many years a student of the paces of draught horses, and instead of riding in a sulky he took his place each day on the edge of the front board of a tip-dray. Even in those days he had a trotter of some* kind tied to the backyard fence, and at intervals he would make a silent visit to a meeting, collect a small stake and a big dividend, and return , to his job of contracting. And it was not till seven years ago, that Withers ! decided to give up gaiting draughts | and confine his attention to pacers and j trotters. Ever since he made that decision he has, by picking his steps, reached the front in his profession, and by all appearances he will retain his eminent ; position. During the past two years he i has acted as private trainer to the Wellington sportsman Mr. J. R. McKenzie, with whose horses Withers has attained big success. LEADING TRAINER While “Dill” Edwards has a chance of beating Withers for the jockeys’ trophy, he has a firm grip of the whip attached to the contest for premier trainer. During the past season Edwards has Cross-Country Running^—C. Gibbons, of Marton, won the 6^-mile test crosscountry race at Wanganui on Saturday to decide the West Coast team for the New Zealand championships at Christchurch this week. R. Clark, Wanganui, was second, and R. B. Walsftam. New Plymouth, third, trained horses that have secured 27 races, and a dead-heat in another event. This is a performance which will earn the young trainer the hearty congratulations of followers of the light-harness pastime. He is a son of the late M. B. Edwards, and a nephew of B. P. Edwards. Both his late father and his uncle contributed much toward the solid foundation on which the sport stands to-day, and it is pleasing to see a member of a famous family possessed of ability to keep the well-known colours prominent. Edwards is a grafter and a student at gaiting and understanding the psychology of the horse. He deserves to get on. and with an ounce of luck he will be one of the top branches of the tree for many years to come. VICTORIES OBTAINED The following is the list of horses driven to victory by D. Withers. To date he has piloted 30 winners: Great Bingen .. 8 Taurekareka . . 1 Peter Swift .. 3 Helen l Meb 3 Logan Lou . . l Frisco Beau .. 2 Tiki l Bold Bill .. . . 2 Grea t Kevin . . 1 Real the Great 2 Sarella 1 Silk Thread .. 1 Sahib l Great Actress . 1 Mavis 1 Here are the horses that were turned out as winners by M. B. Edwards this season:— Harold Thorpe 51 Fair Lad ... 1 Shine Soon ... 3 Will Soon ... 1 Dalmeny .... 2 First Water . . 1 Ari-an Chief . . 2 Great Elect ... 1 Wnareplana . . 2 Sarsaparilla . . 1 Ariki ...... 2 Lochree .... 1 General Bingen 2 Zolock Palm . . 1 Black Admiral . 2 • GOLF