VETERAN TRAINER

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 91, 18 April 1945, Page 8

VETERAN TRAINER

DEATH OF MURRAY HOBBS

P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, April 17. The death has occurred of Mr Murray Hobbs, aged 82. The early part of his life was spent in South Canterbury, where he first became associated with racing about 1880. Among the early winners he trained were Jackdaw, Borderman, Shadow, Shamrock, Hinerua, Our Pony, Makarakara, lonic,-and Leopold. From Timaru he went •to Ashburton, and at a later date he took over the Racecourse Hotel at Riccarton. At both these places he continued his active association with racing, and he raced Lady Zetland with much success. She was the first horse to win the Great Easter and Great Autumn double, and the New Zealand Cup and Canterbury Cup were other races she won in Hobbs's colours. Prime Warden also won for him the Canterbury CupBenzoin the Stewards' Handicap, flvanoff the Welcome Stakes, and Dundas was successful in the Dunedin Champagne Stakes, Great Autumn Handicap, and Dunedin Cup when raced in partnership with Campbell Hobbs, a brother of ithe trainer. Hobbs also won the Grand National Steeplechase and other jumping races with Moody, and the brothers were joint-owners of Prime Warden when he won the Great Autumn Handicap. Murray Hobbs trained Saracen for Mr. R. Allen, his wins including the Great Easter Handicap and Dunedin Jockey Club Handicap.

Among later owners he trained for were Mr. J. B. Reid and Mr. J. C. N. Grigg, one of the last horses to be in his care being imported Gay Lad. He took Kilboy. to Australia to win the A.J.C. Derby for Messrs. W. G. Stead and E. S. Luttrell, and he also had charge of Sasanof for the same owners when he won the Melbourne Cup a few weeks later. In his young days Hobbs had a great deal of success as an athlete.