OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 261, 2 August 1939, Page 5

OBITUARY

Mr. J. W. Abbott. The death of Mr. J. W. Abbott yesterday morning removes a prominent Wellington citizen of many years standing, and a particularly good supporter of racing. Mr. Abbott came to New Zealand in 1800 from Devon, and he was the principal and one of the founders of the well-known firm of Abbott, Oram and Company .in. Victoria Street, Wellington. A few years after settling in Wellington he became interested in race horses, and raced under the assumed name of “Mr. J. Monk.” He also raced in partnership with “Mr. Douglas Gordon,” and Mr. P. E. Baldwin, one of their earliest purchases being Boreas, who was placed in the stable of J. H. Prosser, Porirua. Tor--tulla and Ostiak were leased as yearlings, and subsequently purchased, and early in 1000, Messrs. Abbott and Gordon took over Mr. Baldwin’s interest in the horses, and_ also the lease of Advance. With this team started a very successful venture, and for many years the Porirua stable held a commanding hand in turf events of the colony. Advance became a high-class race horse, one of the best New Zealand has ever seen, and he won under weights that are today astonishing. He was raced in Australia,

being a contemporary of the great mare Wakeful. While there Prosser bought seven yearlings for his patrons and among them was the chestnut colt who was to earn great fame under the name of Achilles. Achilles followed Advance in class and won numerous big races. Later Mr. Abbott raced the black Stepniak cott Diabolo, who won a Canterbury Cup. Among the successes of the partnership and of Mr. Abbott alone, were a Stewards’ Handicap, Manawatu Cup and Great Easter Handicap with Boreas; New Zealand Cup and Manawatu Cup with Tortulla; Wanganui Cup, C.J.C. Jubilee Cup, Dunedin Cup and Wellington Cup with Advance who carried the record weight of 10.4 and ran the then record time of 2.34 1-5. Advance also won the Easter and Autumn Handicaps and Century Stakes in Auckland. Ghoorka won the Wanganui Cup, Dunedin Cup and Napier Park Cup, while the list of Achilles, though not nominated in many classics, is a formidable one. He won the Middle Park Plate, Wanganui Guineas, Hawke's Bay Stakes, C.J.C. Jubilee Cup, Auckland Century Stakes, Wellington Stakes, North Island Challenge Stakes (twice), Jackson Stakes (thrice), C.J.C. Challenge Stakes (twice), Wellington Cup under 9.4 which stood as the weightcarrying record at Trantham till Vintage’s 9.9, Manawatu Stakes and other races. Mr. A.bbott was a steward of the Wellington Racing Club continuously since 190.1, a vice-president since 1929, and was one of tlie trustees till the incorporation of tlie club. He was a member for over 40 years. Mr. Abbott’s wife and two daughters are in England. A son died some years ago in Kenya. Mr. E. 11. Rawson, of Wellington, and Mr. Clem Dunean, of Masterton, are brothers-in-law.