78-year-old Trainer's First Success—The Auckland Cup

Press, Volume C, Issue 29402, 3 January 1961, Page 8

78-year-old Trainer's First Success—The Auckland Cup

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, January 2.

It has been a funny old New Year for Mr N. A. Martin, the Wanganui horse-trainer who, at the age of 78. became a celebrity today when Ruato won the Auckland Cup. On Friday. Mr Martin lost a toe. Today, he won nearly £lOOO. "Fair exchange,” he grinned as. wearing one shoe and one slipper, he led his horse from the birdcage at Ellerslie. Mr Martin’s toe. the fourth on the right foot, was crushed and left hanging by a sliver of skin when Ruato stood on it. “I was going to cut it off with' a pocket-knife." he said. "But they wouldn’t let me. So I went to hospital, and a doctor did it.” The “erand” Mr Martin won today—£93l 5s to be exact—was made up of his trainer’s fee and betting receiots His fee—lo per cent of the winning prize of £7550 and a gold cun worth £l5O —came to £770. and the “tenner each way” he invested on the horse grossed him £lBl ss. Is Ruato a hard horse to prepare for a race? “I wouldn’t know—he’s about the only one

I’ve ever trained,” Mr Martin said. In spite of his advanced age, he has had a trainer’s licence for only two years. What . did Mr Martin do for a living before he began training? “I was a horse-breaker for 62 years, first in Australia and then in New Zealand. I’ve been here since 1907.” Plans for the future? “We’ll give Ruato a spell now, though he's been nominated for Wellington.

“I’d like to take him to Australia for the next Melbourne Cup.”