Famous Riders Have Piloted Cup Winners

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 236, 24 December 1927, Page 7

Famous Riders Have Piloted Cup Winners

Where Are the Boys of the Old Brigade ? JOCKEYS IN MONDAY’S RACE Where are the boys of the old brigade? Well might one ask! Of all the jockeys riding in next Monday’s Cup, very few have had their names inscribed in the roll of honour in connection with this most valuable handicap. W. Brown, who won the Cup three times on Nelson and once on Crackshot, was watching the gallops at Ellerslie this week. Take the last 2G races for the Cup. Within this period 20 jockeys have piloted the winner. In 1901 Les. Hewitt rode his first winner of the race when he punched home St. Michael for the late G. G. Stead, and a year later he was again successful on the same owner’s great horse Siege Gun. Subsequently Hewitt left these shores and has ridden practically all over the world. VARIED EXPERIENCES When the writer was in the Old Country during the war years, he was more than once a visitor to the famous Newmarket Downs, and leading trainers and stable-boys often inquired as to “Tod” Hewitt’s welfare. This horseman did a good deal to place the Dominion on the map so far as racing was concerned, for apparently he always spoke well of his native land. Hewitt is now India’s leading trainer,

with a very large string of horses in training. Latest advices from the land of many religions and ancient customs show that the ex-New Zealander is flourishing, and is held in the highest esteem by his patrons and racegoers generally. Those who knew him will not be in the least surprised at this fine report. POPULAR ELLERSLIE FIGURE Soon after Hewitt came one who is now domiciled at Ellerslie as a trainer in charge of a fair-sized team. This is J. Buchanan. He won his first Auck- i

land Cup on that useful handicapper Mahutonga, and two years later he gave a repeat performance with Master Delaval. Buchanan rode often after his last big success in 1906, and up to a few seasons ago he was a consistent performer in the pigskin. Now he is permanently stationed at Ellerslie. The next horseman of interest to Aucklanders to score in their Cup was Ben Deeley, who, as long ago as 22 years back, landed Putty first past the post, and he followed this on Karo 14 years later. STILL KEEN Although it is some time since Deeley gave up riding in public, excepting for a brief return, the Ellerslie rider is still keen, and he is always present at headquarters in the early hours eager to ride work. He retains the enthusiasm—.the fever if you will —and is never happy unless astride a horse, and the better he is , the better Ben likes it.

When Gloaming first appeared upon the scene it was Deeley that did the riding of this splendid galloping bay, and it tvas only when he retired from active riding that George Young got the mount on this and other of Mr. Greenwood’s horses. It’s an ill wind. You know the proverb. ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL TRAINER Then came success for the all cerise colours of the Hawke’s Bay owner, the late Hon. J. D. Ormond, whose horse Zimmerman served to give F. D. Jones his first win in the event. Five years later Jones was again astride the winner. This time it was Bobrikoff, the black wonder horse from Hawke’s Bay, of whom many stories could be told and much written if time and space permitted. Nowadays F. D. Jones is training at Riccarton, and he has had under his charge horses like Ballymena and now Limerick. Need any more be said? Glentruin was another, and others of perhaps lesser fame. It is interesting to recall also that Jones saddled up the surprise Cup winner of six years ago in Malaga. All Red won the Cup twice in succession. in 1908 and 1909, and on each occasion he was ridden by C. Jenkins, who is still occupied in stable duties, even if he does not ride in public. Joe Conquest won on Waimangu in 1910, and he is still riding. Probably he is the oldest jockey now riding on the flat, even if he does not look the part. Another Ellerslie horseman who is still riding is Claude Browne, who was up on Santa Rosa when he sprang his surprise. Then we come to F. E. Jones, for some time now first jockey to Sir George Clifford, and he will be on deck again on Monday. F. E. Jones scored his one and only win on Sir Solo, who 12 months before had won both the