DEATH OF KEITH VOITRE

Southland Times, Issue 23612, 13 September 1938, Page 10

DEATH OF KEITH VOITRE

FATAL INJURIES AT MOONEE VALLEY WON MELBOURNE CUP ON MARABOU The death of the New Zealand jockey, Keith Voitre, following an accident at Moonee Valley on Saturday, ended the brilliant career of one of the finest horsemen New Zealand has produced in recent years. Voitre was an accomplished horseman as he proved both in the Dominion and in Australia, and he was a thorough sportsman. On leaving school he was apprenticed to E. Penman, of Otaki, and was latter transferred to R. E. Hatch, of Palmerston North. This was in 1928 and almost a year later he had his first ride in a race when he was on Hymestron at Woodville. At Carterton he rode his first winner, Callamore, on which he won again at Carterton a few weeks later. Voitre was not long in proving himself a rider of some ability and in his first year he rode 19 winners; with 35 successes the following. season he was the leading apprentice rider for the Dominion. For the 1930-31 season he was fourth on the winning jockeys’ list with 48 winners to his credit. Voitre was at

the top of the winning jockeys’ list for the 1931-32 season when he rode 85 winners, and he repeated this P® r .' formance the following season. In this year his name was a household word and he ended the season with 123 winners, beating the previous winning record of 116 established by H. Gray two seasons earlier.

WON MELBOURNE CUP

In 1930 Voitre went to Australia for a short time and rode several winners for J. T. Jamieson’s stable. Three years ago he went to the Commonwealth to live. His ability was quickly recognized and he established himself as one of the leading jockeys on Australian courses. His success in Australia was as sweeping as it had been in New Zealand, and at one stage he was almost invincible. In 1935 he won the Melbourne Cup on Marabou and he also won the V.R.C. Derby on Feldspar. Last year he suffered a broken leg and it was only a few weeks ago that he resumed race riding. Voitre won most of the important races decided in New Zealand, some of his successes being: Great Northern Foal Stakes on Princess Doreen and Legatee; Auckland Cup on Gold Trail and Admiral Drake; Great Northern Guineas on Golden Wings; Wanganui Cup on Aga Khan and the Wellington Cup on Royal Artist. Voitre was always unconcerned about his success and by all who came in touch with him he was described as a gentleman both on and off the course. Voitre always gave credit to his former employer, R. E. Hatch, who had trained a number of fine horsemen, for any success that he had achieved. When he began riding, Voitre went to scale at sst 21b and did not have any difficulty in riding at light weights. Racing in Australia and New Zealand can ill afford to lose a horesman of Voitre’s calibre and his death will be mourned by followers of the turf and others. WELLINGTON T.C. THE HANDICAPS (United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, September 12. Following are the handicaps for the Wellington Trotting Club’s meeting on September 24:— NAI NAI HANDICAP, £175. For unhoppled trotters. Class 3.40. One mile and a-half. Axiom It yds bhd Biworth It Billy Sundy 36 Dollar Maid It Tonee 36 Princess Beverley It Sagamore 48 Native Leaf It Arapai 60 SHARPE HANDICAP, £175. Class 3.5. One mile and a-quarter. Cavatina It Rey Bonny It Crystal Chimes It Royal Thread It De Reske It Sentiment It Diltest Silk King It First Shake It Silver Grattan It Golden Axworthy It Special Edition It Golden Star It Stepson It Hottentot It Straight It Mazaire It Super Jack It Lady Vasclyne It Tinker It Mongolian It yds bhd Palomar . It Taikl 12 Plymouth It Max Havoc 24 Prince McElwyn It Radiant Prince 36 Resistance It Playful 48 BOLLARD MEMORIAL HANDICAP, £3OO. Class 3.28. One mile and a-half. Bexley Girl It yds bhd Dark Hazard It Treasure Bond 12 Doubt It Cavan Chief 12 Fine Art it Marlene 12 Fremont It Twenty Grand 12 Philario It Repeal 36 Three Bells It RAILWAY HANDICAP, £225. Class 3.36. One mile and a-half. Acceleration It Wee Potts It Acora It yds bhd Allworthy It Eddie Tolan 12 Baron Alfonso -It Guy Zolock 24 Colonel Axworthy It Charlie Chan 36 Otaua It Ropata 36 Precious Metal it Jackaranda 48 Stamboul It Myrtle Oro 48 Taruna It MILFORD HANDICAP, £2OO. For unhoppled trotters. Class 4.55. Two miles. Axiom it Tonee 48 Biworthy It Sagamore 60 Dollar Maid It Arapai 72 Princess Beverley It Mabel Chimes 72 yds bhd Billy Sundy 48 HUTT PARK TRIAL HANDICAP, £175. Class 3.43. One mile and a-half. Cavatina It Resistance it Crystal Chimes It Rey Bonny It De Reske It Royal Thread It Diltest It Sentiment It First Shake It Silk King It , Golden Star It Silver Grattan It Hottentot It Special Edition It Lady Vasclyne It Stepson It Mazaire It Straight Super It Mongolian It Jack Tinker It Palomar It yds bhd Plymouth It Taikl 12 Prince McElwyn It Radiant Prince 36 WELLINGTON HANDICAP. £250. Class 2.52. One mile and a-quarter. Three Bells It Bexley Girl It yds bhd Dark Hazard It Cavan Chief 12 Doubt It Marlene 12 Fine Art it Treasure Bond 12 Fremont It Twenty Grand 12 Philario It Repeal 36