FAREWELL TO MR GEORGE PRICE.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2167, 5 July 1922, Page 6

FAREWELL TO MR GEORGE PRICE.

AN ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERING. I In sporting circles generally and | amongst racing men In particular | there is no name more widely or fa-1 vourably known than that of Mr, George Price, whose successful career j as a. jockey, arid latterly as a trainer, i needs no comment in the Domln- \ ion. Mr Price for some time was New | Zealand's leading jockey, and during | the past 13 years, in which he has j been in charge of Mr J. Goring John-j ston’s “Highden” stable, be has won | £38,000 in stakes. So much for Mr j Price professionally. The large and | enthusiastic gathering that bade him j farewell, on the eve of his departure for Australia last night, was convincing evidence of his great, in fact unique popularity, amongst his fellowsports. Mr E. J. Leyden occupied the chair, and read apologies for absence from several local sportsmen, including Messrs L. H. Collinson, E. L. Broad, P. McHardy, F. Lovelock. A. M. Williams, and A. Ollivcr. As the chairman observed in his opening remarks, those present represented all branches of the Sport of Kings, and expressed in no small way the sincere and very emphatic regret of them all at their friend’s departure. For many years he had had the full confidence of Mr J. Goring Johnston in every detail of his stable management,, and in going to what was perhaps the greatest sporting country in the world, Mr George Price would be accompanied by the best good wishes of the sporting community, and the speaker believed he would improve the tone of racing “over there.” Undoubtedly they would miss him from the Awapunl course, and another thing they would miss was the hospitality of his home, controlled by that magnificent lady, his mother. The chairman also expressed Ihe hope that his friends would hear from him occasionally. Certainly they would watch with more than passing interest his racing career in the Commonwealth. On behalf of his many friends and admirers in the Dominion, the chairman then presented Mr Price with an illuminated address and a cheque, representing a. very substantial amount, as a token of their esteem. Messrs E. J. Barnes, W. T. Lovelock, C. P. Nash and D. O’Reilly, on behalf of the owners, voiced the very high estimation in which their guest was held, and Mr Nash asked Mr Price to accept a Maori tiki in greenstone as an emblem of good luck. Messrs E. Watson, on behalf of Mr Price’s brother trainers, and John Turner, and John Smart, representing the business side of the community, also expressed the general regret at Mr Price’s departure. The concensus of opinion was that Mr Price was a “gentleman trainer,” always considerate to those under him and always a “straight runner.” His counsel and advice had always been sought by owners and trainers alike. In going to Australia he would have a wider scope, but nothing would please them better than to welcome him back to Maoriland. In acknowledging the remarks of the speakers, Mr Geo. Price said that the past twelve years of his career in Palmerston North had been a period of unalloyed happiness. His motto had always been “Live and let live," and rather than tell a man a lie, he had said nothing. He would have a wider scope for his abilities in Australia, but nothing would please him better than to be visited by his old friends in New Zealand over there. (Loud applause.) Throughout the gathering was of a most enthusiastic nature, and the departing- sportsman was quite overwhelmed by those anxious to secure a departing handshake.