DEATH OF MR E.L. RIDDIFORD

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26558, 22 October 1951, Page 4

DEATH OF MR E.L. RIDDIFORD

SUCCESSFUL OWNER AND ADMINISTRATOR Mr Eric Leslie Riddiford, a former president. 1( of the Wellington Racing Club and a descendant of a plonker family in the Wellington area, died early on Saturday morning. Flags were flown at half-mast at the Trantham racecourse on Saturday. Mr Riddiford first became a.steward of the Wellington Racing Club In 1914. He was elected president in 1831. The courage and foresight of Mr Riddiford’s administration were such that, although the club had liabilities of £lOO.OOO when he assumed office, £26,000 in taxation provision was the. club’s only liability when he retired in 1948. During that period course assets had been added to considerably. Mr Riddiford raced many good horses. One of them was Coalition, the champion steeplechaser of his time, which won the Great Northern-Wel-iington-Grand National Steeplechase treble in 1921. The Patronus gelding had also won the Grand National Steenlechase in 1920. Other good steeplechasers to carry Mr Riddiford’s colours were Master Peter and. Tigerland. On the flat Scion won the 1922 New Zealand and Auckland Cups for him. Mr Riddiford also won the New Zealand Cup five years earlier with Menelaus, which he raced in partnership with his brother, the late Mr Vivian Riddiford. Mr Riddiford is survived Jay his widow and one daughter, Mrs Camp-f bell Greenwood, of Ajnberley.