A GREAT HORSEMAN

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 5, 6 July 1939, Page 13

A GREAT HORSEMAN

DEATH OF NORMAN CODBY

Norman Deeley Godby, who died in Melbourne recently, will go down in history as one of the great Australian jockeys. Gifted with perfect balance, splendid hands, and an uncanny judgment of pace; he was the ideal jockey. It was regrettable that he could not I keep his weight within reasonable | bounds, but as he stood nearly six feet it was surprising he was able to. ride as long as he did. ; UNDER FAMOUS TUTOR. Godby was one of four brothers who were all riding in Sydney and Melbourne in the early years of the century. His brothers were the Caulfield trainers, Frank, Cecil, and Charles Godby. Norman was born at Armidale (N.S.W.) on May 20, 1888, and he did a little riding there as a boy. At the age of 13 years he was apprenticed to that remarkable trainer, of jockeys Richard Wootton for a period of four years. That Godby was a born jockey was soon apparent to Wootton, and it was not long before the lad was riding races. He had his first mount on Marathon at Newcastle on December 14, 1901, but it was a loser. He, however, won a double at Wallsend a fortnight later and that opened what was to prove a great career as a jockey. He then weighed "only '■■ five stone, r His first important win came when he won the Metropolitan for Wootton on Queen of Sheba in the spring of 1904, when he was aged 14 years: A few weeks later he rode Merton Steel lin the Melbourne Cup won by The Victory, and it was a tragic > experience. Merton Steel was forced on to the rails and fell. Merton Steel was killed and Godby had his leg broken.. The leg did not knit satisfactorily and: it was a source of trouble for the rest' of his life. . ' , . -

Richard Wootton,. left Australia for South Africa, and finally England, before Godby had finished his apprenticeship, and the horseman completed his indentures elsewhere. Later he became attached to the stable of Walter Hickenbotham as first jockey, and one of his early successes for Hickenbotham was gained on Blue Spec in the Moonee Valley Cup.

BIG CUP SUCCESS

Godby received some compensation I for his disastrous ride on Merton Steel iby being given the mount on Lord Cardigan in the Melbourne Cup the following year, for, carrying 6.8, Lord Cardigan wore down Wakeful and defeated her. That was his only, Melbourne Cup success, but he went close to winning a few years later on Tulkeroo; who was defeated by inches by Lord Nolan. Godby always maintained that Tulkeroo had been first past the post, but the judge did not agree with him. Other important riding successes included:—Champion Stakes (Dividend). Debutant Stakes (Ebullition), Moonee Valley Cup (Blue Spec), Bagot Handicap (Red Streak), Caulfield Futurity Stakes (Gladsome), Epsom Handicap (Sleeper), A.J.C. Leger (Dividend), S.A. Leger (Torah) Perth Cup (Czarevitch). After retiring from the saddle Godby became a trainer and specialised in jumpers. He met with considerable success, too, for he trained Sandule and Berrinbo to win the Grand National Hurdle Race and lolaus to win the Grand National Steeplechase. His health, however, proved unsatisfactory, and he surrendered his trainer's licence in 1925 and of recent years he was more or less an invalid.