Last rest on turf

Press, 23 February 1977, Page 1

Last rest on turf

PA Wellington Frank Warren died last Wednesday, never having fulfilled his dream of becoming a jockey, but yesterday one wish came true when his ashes were spread along the straight at Trentham Racecourse. Trentham was his favourite course and yesterday morning his son, Harvey, an Invercargill jockey, mounted a horse to spread the ashes as the rest of the family, course officials, and track workers looked on.

An apprentice jockey to Tommy George in his younger days. Frank Warren went to the war before his time was up — and there lost an eye. This made it impossible for him to get a jockey’s licence. “He decided that if he couldn’t be a jockey himself he would have some sons who would be jockeys," Harvey explained. “He had four sons and three daughters, and three of us boys became jockeys.

“Darryl and Craig are no longer jockeys, so the honour fell to me to spread the ashes. “We tried to get Test Match as my mount, but it was not possible,” he added, “lest Match was his favourite horse.” Instead. Test Match's half-brother, Mr Casey, was used. Other people have had their ashes spread along the Trentham straight, but as far as many there this

morning could remember I it was the first time a ' horse had been ridden while the ashes were spread. “Usually they walk the I straight and rhe southern corner,” said one man. “We even had one person

come out and tip the ashes straight out on to the ground and say, ‘There, I have done what he wanted, and then walk away.”