Last Drive For J. L. Behrns

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32321, 12 June 1970, Page 1 (Supplement)

Last Drive For J. L. Behrns

By

W. R. Carston

! A man who has been associated with trotting for nearly 50 yeai's, will drive in a race' for the last time at Rangiora tomorrow.

He is the Chertsey trainer. J. L. Behrns. who will not be able to renew his horseman's licence next season. He has reached the age of 65— the official retiring age for race-drivers.

All going well Behrns will be at Rangiora and if he is fit enough—there was considerable doubt about this earlier in the week—he is assured of at least one drive. He will handle one of the two runners which will represent his stable in the Ohoka Handicap. It will be bad luck indeed if the aftermath of injuries received in a race accident earlier in the season deprives him of his last opportunity of being in the sulky.

After the accident, which occurred at Addington Raceway in January. Behms was out of action for 12 weeks. After resuming he had only a handful of drives before deciding to handle Brockworth King in the Harvest Handicap at Ashburton last Saturday week. Tough Drive I “During the race he just about pulled my arms out of their sockets,” said 1 -Behrns last week-end. ‘Tve been just about useless, at least in the upper limbs, since.” But last Tuesday Behrns found that a misplaced disc was causing the pain in his shoulders and arms. A little manipulation put that matter right. But there will be another visit for medical advice before he will know whether he is fit to drive tomorrow. Behrns received his grounding in trotting from the late J. “Scotty” Bryce. He joined that famous trainer’s establishment in 1922 and remained there for four years. One of the horses he vividly remembers from those days was Great Hope, one of six New Zealand Cup winners; Bryce prepared.

I For the next seven years 1 Behrns was employed at j Durbar Lodge, at Ashbur- ' ton. When he joined this es- ! tablishment D. Warren was ■ private trainer to the lodge’s proprietor. Mr H. F. Nicoll. [then president of the Troti ting Conference. After Warren’s death Behrns took over the training of the team. Among the horses he prepared w'as Indianapolis which he harnessed to win his first race, a maiden event at an Ashburton County Racing Club’s meeting in May. 1932. At his only other start that season Indianapolis finished second to Taxpayer in the Sapling Stakes.

Champion Sold Soon after his Sapling Stakes placing Indianapolis was sold to the late Mr G. J. Barton, of Dunedin, and was transferred to W. J. Tomkinson’s stables at Addington. Indianapolis went from strength to strength and became the first of only two horses—False Step was the other—to win the New Zealand Trotting Cup three times in succession. Another of the Durbar Lodge team Behrns remembers well was Wrackler, the 1930 New Zealand Cup winner. Later he converted this very good pacer to trotting and the good races the horse won at this gait included the 1932 Dominion Handicap. The year before, Behrns harnessed Ciro to win the New Zealand Derby for Mr H. F. Nicoll.

After terminating his employment at Durbar Lodge Behms spent the next two vears training for Mr A. Read, at Tinwald. Among the winners he prepared for this owner were Wild Dream and Credit Funds. At the age of 28. Behrns decided to go it alone. He was able to achieve this when the late Mr R H. Butterick

' offered him the use of his property at Hinds provided he trained Peggoty. With this good trotter he won seven races in succession and he also harnessed her to beat Sea Gift, one of the best trotters of the day, in a match race at Greymouth. Behrns also had his share of success with his own horses. Blue Logan was one with which he won a good few trotting races. For many years now—except for one when he acted as private trainer to Mr P. A. Watson, of Methven—the Behrns’ stables have been at Chertsey.

Probably the best horse he has trained in recent years was Cardinal King, which : reached New Zealand Cup class before being sold to the United States. “The Cardinal" made a name for himself right away on reaching America by winning each of the three international races at Yonkers Raceway.

Toby Brigade was another good handicap horse which Behrns reckons would have reached cup class but for an accident. He nearly severed a tendon when he jumped a shadow during race trials at Addington. He was given plenty of time to recover and was tried again but did not stand up to training. ! Waitaki Elect, one-of Canterbury’s most promising three-year-olds, won six races for the Behrns’ stable last season but his form has not been up to the same standard since he went to Australia early this term. Many drivers at 65 still feel they are far too “young” to be put on the side-line. Behrns might sympathise, but does not share this view. If he has to be a spectator on Saturday, he will not be disappointed. Likewise, in future seasons he will be quite content to carry on with the training and watch his racing 'from the stands.