Racing, TV personality, Glyn Tucker, dies

Press, 28 May 1984, Page 8

Racing, TV personality, Glyn Tucker, dies

PA Auckland Mr Glyn Tucker, the racing and television celebrity who died in Auckland on Saturday, entered the world of horse racing on the spur of the moment. Mr Tucker, who suffered from a heart ailment, died three weeks after being diagnosed as having lung cancer. He was 62. During his working lifetime he became an authority on thoroughbred breeding, and in recent years commanded a big audience as a television racing commentator. It was on impulse that the young Glyn Tucker, in the late 1930 s and just out of

college, joined the staff 'of the New Zealand Racing Conference in Wellington. After his return from service in Egypt and Italy during World War 11, Mr Tucker was appointed Keeper of the Stud Book, a position he held until 1968 when he set up his own bloodstock agency. In his element when proclaiming the merits of New Zealand thoroughbreds, he was an obvious choice to join a group of racing men sent to the United States and England in 1963 to argue the case for the entry of certain New Zealand racehorse families to the Stud Book of England.

In the early 19505, Mr Tucker was instrumental in devising a new and revolutionary system of thoroughbred identification. For three years he was host of a talkback radio racing programme in Wellington. His job as front man for live telecasts of New Zealand’s main racing carnivals was preceded by stints as compere of the Saturday morning television shows, “Sports Extra” and “Turf Talk.” In the last New Year’s Honours list, Mr Tucker was awarded the M.B.E. for his services to the New Zealand thoroughbred racing industry.