Veteran Trainer Dead

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 187, 8 August 1941, Page 2

Veteran Trainer Dead

J. T. MORRIS, OF MARTON Mr. J. T. Morris, father of tho wellknown horsemen, Messrs. B. H. and L. G. Morris, died at Marton Junction on Wednesday at the age of 76 years. The late Mr. Morris was a particularly popular and capable trainer. Ho set a i high standard in his profession and throughout his career as a jockey and mentor, which lasted 57 years, he was not once called before the stewards, not even for a minor breach of the rules.

! Mr. Morris was born in England and was about eight years of age when lie i was brought to New Zealand. He | landed in Wellington and went on to j Crofton, near Marton. As a boy horses and horse racing were his chief interests and whenever there was a race meeting at Parewanui, Awahuri or i Sandon work would be conveniently 'forgotten. When he was 18 years of age he decided to become a trainer and his first patron was the late Mr. J. Green, of Marton. His horses included Sunbeam, Ross, Oakland, Pokomoko, Bloomsbury and Pushful. At that time thero were meetings at York 'Farm, which was the old Marton course, at Wanganui, Foxton, Palmerston North (on the old course) and at Fordell and Turakina. The stakes were usually £5, £lO or £2O and the only way of getting horses to meetings was to walk them there. After some time at Marton, Mr. Morris, shifted to Bulls to train and ride for the late Mr. W. Holmes. Amongst the horses he looked after were Envoy and Little Mary. After rosiding at Bulls for five years, Mr. Morris returned to Marton, where he built a house and stables and started ns a public trainer. Mr. A. W. McDonald (who is now located at Awa,puni) went with him from Bulls and was with him for about 15 years. Mr. J. Bull was the new trainer’s first patron and the first horse he sent to Mr. Morris was Gang Awa’. Others that carried Mr. Bull’s green jacket were Omahu, Ngata, All Over, Brigadier Bill, Ruby Ring, Tit Willow, Colorado, Master Lupin and Golden March. In addition, Mr. Morris had Sepoy, Blue Thread, Vfast Acre, Warfille and Vladieau, the last-named incidentally being the horse that gave Mr. L. G. Morris his first winning ride. For Mr. L. H. Collinson the late Mr. Morris trained Kaika, Gaekwar, Battleground, Birkenose, Martulla, Bonny Brook, Nightmare, Loisure, Postman and Petrarch, and for Mr. .T. Craig, of Marton, he prepared Vladineau, a fullsister of® T ladieau.

During his long career Mr. Morris prepared tho winners of many important races. In 1919 Master Lupin, rid- ! den by Mr. A. W. McDonald, won the Great Northern Steeplechase, and I Omahu, with the same rider, beat all but Sea Delil in the 1922 Great Northern Steeplechase. Ridden each time by Mr. L. G. Morris, Omahu scored twice in the Wellington Steeplechase, and with Mr. McDonald up won the Winter j Hurdles at Treuthain. There was also that great horse Ngata, whom Mr. Morris declared was the best horse ho over trained. He won the Wanganui, Marton and Foxton Cups and showed his versatility by racing over hurdles and then coming back to win the Wanganui Cup in record time for the event.

During his career Mr. Morris trained three apprentices who went on to take their place among the leading horsemen in the laud. These are his two sons, Mssrs. B. H. Morris and L. G. Morris, and Mr. R. C. Miles. Another son, Mr. J. Morris, was an amateur rider who was gifted with great ability in the saddle and won many races. In addition to his sons, Mr. Morris is survived by his widow.