Humphrey’s Supporters Happy

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31835, 13 November 1968, Page 1

Humphrey’s Supporters Happy

Mr Hubert Humphrey’s defeat in the United States Presidential stakes recently did not dampen the enthusiasm of the New Zealand public for his namesake in the New Zealand Trotting Cup, the richest race in the lightharness sport in New Zealand.

The race was not among the more memorable, and was marred by interference which led to the suspension of two drivers and the fining of another, but the crowd of more than 17,500 (the official figure) was happy because the favourite had won.

Among the happy men were two trotting enthusiasts who are not claiming any record but who would find few contenders for their attendance record. Mr P. Dunn was seeing his sixtieth New Zealand [Trotting Cup in a row; and Mr D. F. Glanvilie, an honorary steward of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club, saw his first cup in 1913. Both backed Humphrey, but Mr Glanvilie was more for- | tunate than his older colleague, because he had 50c worth of the concession double with Markalan. Mr Dunn, aged 84, and Mr Glanvilie, aged 82, had not met before they were introduced by a reporter of “The. Press,” but they were soon chatting happily about the days and races remembered by few others.

Mr Dunn’s first cup was won by Durbar in 1908, Mr Glanville’s in 1913 by Ravenschild. “BETTER RACE” “It was a better cup race this year than last,” Mr Dunn gave as his verdict. “I have been watching Humphrey, and

did not think he -was being extended recently. Then came the Kaikoura Cup, with no penalty. He won, and 1 said, ‘This is it’.’’ Mr Glanvilie was on the committee of the club for about 30 years and for 24 of them helped the late Mr Alan Matson arrange the programme. He owned Great Bingen in 1925. and first interested Mr J. R. McKenzie, later Sir John McKenzie, in trotting. “J.R.? I knew him on the bowling green,” said Mr Dunn when he heard this, and the veterans were away on reminiscences. “He was a great sportsman,” they agreed. Mr Glanvilie was not as positive about the best cup horse as was. Mr Dunn, who plumped for Indianapolis, winner of the cup in 1934-35-36. “I would have liked to have seen him at his best against Cardigan Bay, and my dollar would still have been bn Indianapolis,” he said. Mr Dunn came to New Zealand from Scotland in 1906 and landed in Wellington on the day that Richard John Seddon, the Premier, was being buried. A great crowd of Maoris had gathered in Wellington for the occasion, and when Mr Dunn’s ship berthed and a fellow immigrant saw the Maoris, he said:

“I knew we should have brought the guns with us.” BAKER’S HORSE In his homeland he had not been interested in trotting, but he went to work for Mr Sam Needham, a baker, and drove a horse that used to be taken out of the baker’s cart on Saturdays and put in a sulky to race at the trots, so his interest was natural. While the old-timers were happy with Humphrey’s win so were thousands of others, not least the amateur trainer and driver, W. E. Lowe, who, with his wife, also owns Humphrey, a seven-year-old bay gelding. It is many years since an amateur trained and drove a New Zealand Cup winner.

Mr Lowe, a farmer at Hinds, is not new to New Zealand Cup honours, because four years ago he was in the birdcage to receive the gold cup as the owner of Cairnbrae, but on that occasion it was driven by the experienced professional trainer and driver, C. S. Donald. As a young man, Mr Lowe had seen his father, Mr W. T. Lowe, win the big race twice with Lucky Jack, first in 1937 and again in 1939. Lucky Jack earned first share of a stake of £2500 on each occasion. Yesterday Humphrey took $13,000 from the $20,000 stake.

Mr G. W. Blaxall, the club’s president, also referred to Humphrey as a great horse, and said that regardless of the number of horses sold to the United States, New Zealand still had some of the world’s best pacers running. Mr Blaxall’s remark about America may have started a rumour which spread around the course that Humphrey was destined for America, but Mr Lowe said he had had no Offers. ! The crowd was not a record, but, with favourites or near favourites winning, it kept the money flowing through the totalisator and the club had an on-course turnover of $461,305, which was $7246 more than last year and the second highest turnover ever, being beaten only by $497,864 in 1966. But off-course the betting dropped by $27,277 to $355,970. Part of this might be attributable to the lack of “glamour” horses: but it is thought that the concession double was not popular with betters. MAIN DOUBLE The main double on course attracted $35,433, against $45,561 last year and at the Totalisator Agency Board investments were $156,621, compared with $192,845 a year ago. In the photograph Mr Dunn is on the left and Mr Glanvilie on the right.