G. H. HUMPHRIES TO RETIRE

Southland Times, Issue 23715, 13 January 1939, Page 10

G. H. HUMPHRIES TO RETIRE

DECISION OF LEADING JOCKEY WON MANY IMPORTANT HANDICAPS (Special to The Times) CHRISTCHURCH, January 12. G. H. Humphries, who is one of the most popular jockeys at Riccarton, may have ridden in his last race at the recent summer meeting of the Auckland Racing Club as he has decided to retire from the saddle. He broke a leg when Argentic fell with him in the Sockburn Handicap at Easter of 1937 and the accident kept him in hospital for several months, and it was not till nearly a year later that he made his reappearance in a race. Since then he has ridden with considerable success and he has been on many winners this season. His injured leg has been a source of anxiety, however, as it swells up and becomes too stiff to permit him to do his mount full justice at the finish of a race. It is for this reason that he has come to his present decision to retire from riding. Humphries has been associated with racing for about sixteen years. He served his apprenticeship with F. D. Jones, for whom he continued to ride after, he became a jockey. Three seaso'ns ago he became first horseman to the late Sir Charles Clifford and he has continued this season to ride the horses raced for the Clifford Estate. For that stable he has won many big races, including the Dunedin Cup, the Canterbury Cup, the Champagne Stakes and the New Zealand St. Leger or. Wild Chase; the Dunedin Guineas and the Stewards’ Handicap on Paper Slipper; two Jockey Club handicaps on Trench Fight; the New Zealand Oaks on Topnotch; the Dunedin Champagne Stakes on Haughty Winner and the Welcome Stakes and the McLean Stakes on Winning Rival. Among his successes for other, owners was the Canterbury and Dunedin Champagne Stakes and two Awapuni Cups on Silver Ring and the Great Autumn Handicap on Gay. Crest, Ramo and The Smuggler. . So far he has made nd arrangements for the future, but his many friends will wish him well wit’. the hope that the severance of his connection with racing will not be final. . t

JUMPERS TO RESUME TRAINING RICCARTON JOCKEYS FOR VINCENT (Special to The Times) CHRISTCHURCH, January 12. M. Caddy and H. W. Hibberd, two well-known lightweight riders, left yesterday morning to ride at the Vincent meeting to be held on Friday and Saturday.

C. C. McCarthy left last night to take over the care of Argentic, Haughty Winner, Rabble and Improvident, who were left at Trentham after their holiday racing in the North Island. When he returns home McCarthy will make a start to get his three jumpers ready for winter racing. Kaipera, who did a little work last winter, is being hacked at present. The Day Comet horse Sky Pilot came in this week after being off the scene for a year and a-half, during which he did some stud duty. He is in good health and quite sound. The third of the stable’s jumpers is Monastic, who will come in from a spell at the end of this month.