A FAMOUS TRAINER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 55

A FAMOUS TRAINER.

John Porter, of Kiugsclere, has for so many years been one of the leading figures in the racing world that the news of his impending resignation will be heard with genuine regret (says the Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, to hand by the last London mail) He has ever represented ths worthiest tradition^ of fclie sport, and it would be hard to mention ■any one man who would be so missed. It has always been known that Kingsclere horses were not sent to the post unless they were fit to run, anything in the nature of those sharp practices which some trainers of fair repute consider permissible John Porter utterly disdained; and his brilliant record of success shows that in competent hands an absolutely straightforward policy can be made to pay handsomely. Of course, John Porter has been fortunate in his employers. He was a young men when Sir Joseph Hawley first engaged him, so young, indeed, that Sir Joseph hesitated on account of his youth ; but with quiet confidence Porter begged for a trial, and how that confidence was justified the racing world soon became aware. I havje not come across anyone who remembers John Porter as a jockey; his career in that capacity did not, I believe, last long-, inereasina; weight keeping him from the saddle. The impression is that he was just a fair average horseman, and it is, of course, as a trainer — and the trainer of some of the best horses that ever lived — that his name will go down in racing annals. It will be chiefly associated with Ormonde. We all know what would have happened if the colt had been in many stables ; there wovild in all probability have been some tempting engagement in the summer which it was thought he could not lose ; he would have been hurried in his preparation for this event, and would possibly have won it, and suffered in consequence. That, of course, was one of the satisfactions of having- such an owner as the late Duke of Westminster to deal with. His Grace and Porter perceived that the horse wanted time, and there was never a question of hurrying him, so that it was not until October 14-, 1885, that the son of Bend Or and Lily Agnes made his first appearance in a Post Sweepstakes at the Newmarket Second October meeting.