Mr Gould gave distinguished service to racing
Mr Derrick Gould, who has died in Christchurch, gave distinguished service to New Zealand racing as an administrator, and for many years .was one of Canterbury’s most prominent owners.
He was also closely identified with the thoroughbred industry as a principal of Pyne, Gould, Guinness Ltd. Mr Gould was one of the Canterbury’ Jockey Club’s longest-serving administrators.
He became a member of the club in 1920, was elected to the club’s committee in 1933, became a steward in 1938, and in 1949 he began a term as honorary treasurer, which was not interrupted until 1965. when he was appointed chairman. After three years as chairman, Mr Gould decided to stand down because of his health, and he took up his former position as the club’s honorary treasurer.
He retired from the C.J.C. committee in July, 1977, and was made an honorary steward of the club as recognition of his 44 years service. On the election of Mr Gilbert Grigg as president of the New Zealand Racing Conference in the mid 1.9505, Mr Gould was
elected to the conference executive, a position he held for several years. . Mr Gould’s first venture as a racing ’ owner was Nightdress, which he raced with some success in partnership with his father-in law, Mr A. S. Elworthy. The best horse to carry Mr Gould’s colours was Irish Note. In the 1945-46 season Irish Note showed remarkably versatile qualities. In November he Won the Stewards’ Handicap at Riccarton in 1.9, a New Zealand record for six furlongs. He won the one-niile Jockey Club Handicap at the New Zealand Cup meeting, and in January won the Wellington Racing Club Handicap by three and a half lengths at a mile and. a half and the weight-for-age Trentham Stakes at 11 furlongs. Four years later Mr Gould had reason to rue
his decision to quit a staying-bred Lang Bian gelding a year or two earlier. This was Langham, which, after being sold to Messrs G. J. and E. J. Francis, won a Wellington Racing Club Handicap and other races. Mr Gould had a heartening experience as a breeder through the deeds of Declare (by Defaulter).
Declare took some time to break through for his first win. but J. C. Tomkinson developed him into one of New Zealand’s best sprin-ter-milers. He recorded his first open class win at Trentham, and returned to race there with success for some seasons.
Another of Mr Gould’s good milers was Copenhagen, whose wins included the Jockey Club Handicap twice. Copenhagen finished his racing career as a nine-year-old by winning the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Heathcote Handicap at long odds at the 1959 Grand National meeting.
Mr Gould had few runners in classic races, but Zinder won the New Zealand St Leger at Trentham in his colours in 1963. In the spring of 1956 Coq d’Or, another son of Targui bought by Mr Gould at the national sales at Trentham, won the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Welcome Stakes with almost playful ease. Almost immediately after, this youngster was showing signs of wind trouble, and Mr Gould sold him. Mr Gould’s St Leger winner, Zinder, was also operated on for wind trouble, and was sold.
In 1964 Manana gave Mr Gould a second win in the Stewards’ Handicap at Riccarton. The Fair’s Fair
gelding was also switched to a middle distance with successful results. His big victory over more ground was in the Wellington Handicap, one mile and a half, at Trentham in 1966. Soon after Manana’s Wellington Handicap victory Mr Gould purchased Time and Tide from Jim Walsh, who was then training on the West Coast.
Time and Tide had won his first four races in the Walsh colours, and went on to win several more for Mr Gould.
Time and Tide might have lacked the class of two or three of Mr Gould’s earlier colour-bearers, but he became a great favourite with his owner as he assembled a worthy record on South Island courses.
His wins at Riccarton included the Heathcote. Paparua, Dominion, and May Handicaps. He won two Geraldine Cups, the Greymouth Cup (at nine years), also the North Canterbury club’s Rangiora Handicap at that age before Mr Gould passed the Dogger Bank gelding on to his son David. Before that season ended Time and Tide wrote another chapter into his versatile record by winning two races over country at Washdyke for Mr David Gould.
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