BOY JOCKEY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 100, 30 March 1937, Page 10

BOY JOCKEY.

A FINE PERFORMANCE. HERO AT ELLERSLIE. AUCKLAND. March 29. The hero of the hour at Ellcrslic on the opening day of tho Auckland Racing Club’s Easter meeting was the 144-year-old jockey, Geoffrey Gilchrist, who rode Tooley Street to victory in the main event, the Easter Handicap, handling his mount like an experienced jockey of more mature years. He received an ovation. Gilchrist is a hoy of no mean accomplishment, in spile of his diminutive stature and weight of sst when stripped. He was dux of his school at To Papapa last year. Ho has now left school. After being almost raised in the saddle, he rode his first race in the apprentices’ event, the Ellerslie Handicap, last Boxing Day, when lie was placed fourth on Fleetwind. Since then ho has ridden in five other events, having been granted an open license on February 27. He was never further back than fifth in a race. Ho rode into second place on Kelly in the first race, the President’s Handicap, to-day. After the big race ho was escorted into the weighing room amid cheers by

tho vice-president of the club (Dr Grant) and tho chief stipendiary steward (Mr Comer). The crowd good-humouredly watched him unsaddle his mount and practically hidden behind the gear ho carried, march proudly off toward the scale room. Another cheer went up as ho shook hands with the owner of Tooley Street, Mr H. Rama.