FRANK WOOTTON HOME.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 25 August 1925, Page 3

FRANK WOOTTON HOME.

TELLS OF ENGLISH SPORT. SYDNEY, Aug. 4. “Well, I’m glad to be back in Sydney, I cian tell you that.” The speaker was Frank Woobton, by birth of Sydney, who finst left Australia a little short of ten years old to become right away a isucceisisfui feather-weight jockey in South Africa.. Then as a twelve-year-old he invaded England. Within two years a# a rockey he had conquered the Old Country, and he quickly rose tO' world-wide fame as the premier jockey of England for four successive years. In all the time since lie first left for England Frank Woobton has until now only seen hi# native land once. That was eleven years ago, when he paid a visit of a few months. Frank arrived this morning by the B.M.S. Obama, looking fib and well. Ho is slightly damaged, as a tremendous sea in the Bight scattered a, card party about* the floor of the card room, with the result that a; table and his shinhone had an argument Wootton was asked what his ideas for the future were.

“What are m.y plans;' Well, i hardly know yet. You see, I have just arrived. .1. may stay here, or I may go hack to England, to launch out as a public trainer; but anyway, I will he here for some time.

“You cam say that I have finally retired from the saddle. 1 had my farewell ride just before I left England in the Isle of Wight, and it was a winner.’' It should be remembered that increasing weight drove Frank Wootton out of fiat-race riding some years ago, and he then took on riding over jumps. In the new branch to him his success continued, and he rapidly reached the front. English Racing. “Racing in England,” Frank said, “had a. great boom following the war, but when I left money was much tighter. That was the more marked because before, some time after peace came, the money in the game was twice as good as it was before 1914. EhgLisili racing suffered, a great loss this year by the death of Sir Edward Hultou, for whom my father trained when he first came to England. He was a great supporter of tlio sport in every way, and kept more houses in training than anybody else in England, unless it he Lord Derby. He distributed ins team among different trainers. Canteen's Black Ascot.

“There were a lot of Australians in England this summer,” continued Frank, “and they all seem to be doing pretty welil. Eric Connolly . unquestionably has done well. He i,9 a nice fellow. Most* of the Australians had a bad time at the Royal Aisoot meeting. I heard that Jack .Canteen lost £SOOO there.

“Frank Dempsey created a good impression in. England, hut ho has had bad. luck. First a* nasty illness, and thou a broken leg. He would have a really good chance if lie cared to stop in, England, bulb I do not think that lie will. In fact, lie give# the impression that lie would like to retire from race-ridiing altogether.” “Ken Godiby will be a good kid. Ho rode ai hit tight at first, hut lie ha* loosened out now. Ho will be a good rider.” Two enthusiastic young eastern anil a youthful brother claimed Frank a.t this stage for a belated breakfast.