W. DAVIES DEAD

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 98, 20 January 1936, Page 16

W. DAVIES DEAD

A Successful Trainer WON FIRST CUP AT TRENTHAM

(BY

The Watcher.)

The death at Wellington hospital on Saturday morning of Mr. William Davies, following a seizure the previous day, removes a former well-known figure from New Zealand's racing world. Born at Llanwern, Monmouthshire, in 1803, Mr. Davies came to New Zealand with his parents in 1862, settling at Christchurch. Early in life he took up horse training, and had his first success in the Geraldine Cup, winning with Mignonette m lbjo. Shortly afterward he transferred to Wanganui, where he trained a good performer of-that day called Alaric, owned by Mr. Robert iliggie. In the 'eighties he transferred to the Hutt course, _ where he trained successfully until 1905. when the Wellington Racing Club transferred its headquarters to Trantham. There Mr. Davies built an up-to-date establishment now occupied by H. Telford, and the stable earned the distinction of winning the first Wellington Cup run on Trantham track with Rapa, ridden by Sid. Reid. During his operations round ’Wellington, Mr. Davies had many good horses through his hands, including Swordfish, Leda, Wish, Melwood, Motor, Field Battery, Rapa, and Ballarat. The last horse he trained with Sonite, which he raced afterward in Australia. George Price, now one of Randwick’s most successful trainers, was first horseman for the stable, and T. R. George, now New Zealand’s leading trainer, served his apprenticeship under Mr. Davies. Sir Thomas Wilford, Mr. 11. AV. Moss, of Wellington, and Mr. D. Ross, of Cambridge, were regular patrons of the stable. Mr. Davies is survived by his widow and daughter. The funeral will leave Clark’s mortuary chapel, Wingfield Street, at 4 p.m. to-day.