The crowd went wild for Skelton’s 2000th

Press, 24 April 1980, Page 2 (Supplement)

The crowd went wild for Skelton’s 2000th

From

W. R. CARSTON,

In Blenheim I .The crowd went wild at< Blenheim-yesterday as soonas it was confirmed that El-' dora has lasted for a head victory in a cliff-hanging fin- i ish to the Andrews Maiden' Stakes, a win which gave Bill Skelton his 2000th winning ride. There was a sustained, hush across the course as the judge announced that there i would be photographs all- i round for the placings in the! second leg of the Marlborough Racing Club’s on-course

[treble and you could have[ |heard a pin drop until the: J judge declared that the cam-: ■era had confirmed his visual| (call that Eldora had just last-1 ed it out. ! Once that announcement! 'was made the cheering, clap-; ping and foot-stamping start-; ed and continued until the 49-year-old Skelton dismounted . from the Feilding-trained j filly. j It was an emotional ■ scene: i as Bill and his wife, Nella, ■ ; were rounded up for a special presentation in the birdcage.! In his presentation speech I

I the Club’s president, Mr ! Robin Reid, congratulated Skelton on the magnificent . achievement of becoming the first jockey in New Zealand j to have ridden 2000 winners. Mr Reid said it was fitting ,that the Levin-based jockey i had reached another milestone in an outstanding career in the South Island where he was born, served his apprenticeship and did much of racei riding before shifting north. !He also told the crowd that he was also pleased that it I happened at Waterlea where I Skelton, one of racing’s

gentlemen, had ridden many winners over the years. Before being presented with a crystal decanter and wine glasses on a silver salver provided by the eight Wellington district racing clubs — there was also a bouquet of flowers for Mrs Skelton — Skelton, in reply to Mr Reid, thanked everyone for the way in which they had acknowledged his success and all those in racing generally for the help that had been given him over the years.