His Last Leg Up

NZ Truth, Issue 994, 13 December 1924, Page 9

His Las t Leg Up

Last week-end another horseman received. his last leg-up, received his final instructions, and left the birdcage with a smile. \ "■'■".:'■■

1 A fall during the race, and the smiling jockey was brought back,', fatally injured. ..■;.;>.. < : .'*->'+- ■,

Such was the lot of Alf McFlinn' at Takap.una. - The Gods were unkind and dealt. out a like hand to Con. Reed at Taumarunui last- Saturday. ' !

If one had been asked to name a parallel, to • the path always followed by McFlinn, , one would ,have, without hesitation,; said the Reeds..

■- Con Reed, a son of ,the late George Reed, as was to be expected, was born with the' riding instinct, m the bone. For was nipt Reed pere one of the finest horsemen of his day? •■;%-:

Wellington has always looker-on- the Reed boys as its own property,': -. They were taught : their trade with f Jack Lowe at. Trentham, "far from the madding crowd," and > each .one was nurtured, kicked or caressed ,as -the mood caught us,- but ; still they were our own. v ■ >: ■ "■■'• ;;■ •■ ■' ; '-:;■ ■ •' ■

„ Con, younger m years .than' Ashley and Roy, was just as much, a favorite on the race day as the next: :■

His qualities as a' rider "were openly admired, and/ his services were, much m demand. At his job he' made r mistakes (who doesn't ?) , but his honesty was never doubted. '

Now his lot. is a name. "Con Reed, 1915-1924." . To' his relatives the deepzest of sympathy is- extended. •,