VETERAN TRAINER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 291, 8 December 1937, Page 23

VETERAN TRAINER.

SUCCESS OF R. J. HUMPHREYS.

R. J. Humphreys, of Templeton, Canter-' bury, is one of the oldest and most successful trainers of trotters and pacers in the Dominion. It is over forty years since he became associated with the sport, lie was head man for A. Hendricksen, who at that time was in the front rank of trainers, and looked after Hal Junior when Mr. J. H. Lloyd's pacer was regarded as a certain winner for a New Zealand Trotting Cup, but broke down an the eve of the meeting. Humphreys was also in charge of Air. R. J. Munro's stable at Addington '" the days of Rorke's Drift and Huon Drift, when the latter established a new three-mile record for New Zealand. About twenty years ago Humphreys bought his present homo at Templeton, which

been a trotting establishment for many years. Ilis first winner was Brutus, who won several races, hut his success with Harold Log&H wais so overwhelming that from then on he has been recognised as one of trie bent trainers in New Zealand. Prior to entering Humphreys' premises Harold Logan was regarded as a doubtful performer, because of unsoundness, which he had possessed from the time he was three years old. Patience and perseverance brougiit a rich reward, for Harold Logan went on to win numerous races, including two New Zealand Trotting Cups, and ever £10,000 in s taken. Huon Voyage provided another example of Humphreys' skill and ingenuity with horses. When the ■Australian gelding entered his stable he iii'd a foqt badly injured, and it tpok many months of treatment and special ghocing to get him fit to train. In the next season Hnon Voyage won the Dominion Trotting Cup. His latest success is Supertax, who won the Free-for-All at Aldington last month and then went to Dunedin, where he established a track record for a mile and • quarter by registering 2.38 4-5. He has twelve horses in work. Among them are Supertax, Loyal Pat and Cantata, who uli won at the For bury Park Club's recent meeting, Ivy Peterseti. Sonoma King, Esplendor and Worthy King.