RECORD OF ELLIS FAMILY IS PROUD ONE

Southland Times, Issue 24000, 15 December 1939, Page 20

RECORD OF ELLIS FAMILY IS PROUD ONE

Southland Brothers Are Leaders Of Their Professions

JN all branches of life—both sporting and commercial — there are some capable of rising to the top and carrying on as leaders of their respective professions. In the racing world there is no better known family than the five Ellis brothers, sons of Mr and Mrs Peter Ellis, early Southland pioneers. The Ellis brothers have not only risen to the top as champion horsemen and leading trainers but they are held in the greatest respect both on and off the turf as true sportsmen, and above all as gentlemen.

The names of the brothers —F. W. (Fred) Ellis, of Invercargill; E. J. (Ernie) Ellis, of Washdyke; A. S. (Arthur) Ellis, A. E. (Bert) Ellis and L. J. (Jimmy) Ellis, the latter three of Riccarton, are synonymous with racing in New Zealand and their prowess in the saddle and as trainers has not been paralleled by any other family in the Dominion or in Australia. The record of the Ellis family is a proud one and of which Southland, too, might well be proud. The phenomenal success of all members of ibis family may lead one to believe that their rise to the. top was by the easy route. But this is not so. Certainly all were born horsemen, but each suffered his share of knocks —and in several cases more than a fair share. Hard work and their ability to make the most of every opportunity has been an important factor in all members of a family creating an enviable record. A Keen Judge PRED, the eldest of the Ellis brothers, was the first to enter the racing game, and he became apprenticed to J. Thistleton at Riverton. Later he was associated with F. D. Jones at Riccarton. As a horseman he was in the first flight and later when he took out a trainer’s licence he was immediately successful, and for some years has been one of the most successful trainers in Southland. Fred Ellis has long been recognized as a dependable judge and his veterinary knowledge has been of great value to him. Under Thistleton he immediately showed ability in the saddle, with a preference for jumpers. He had many remarkable experiences in the saddle and did not escape scathless. On one occasion when Thistleton took Red Earl to Riccarton to contest the National hurdles Ellis had the mount. Red Earl fell in that race his rider suffering a broken leg and Red Earl had to be destroyed. When Mandrake crossed his legs and fell in a race at Riccartoh Ellis was taken to hospital unconscious and his condition for some time was serious. His career as a jockey was a notable one while he has been just as successful as a trainer.

One of his most important riding successes was on Kauri King in the Grand National steeplechase in 1918. As a trainer he has produced a host of good winners the number including Silver Peak, Master Sandstone, Bias, Queen Balboa, King Balboa, Tea Party, and in more recent seasons, Cbugh, Foxlove, Galleon, Mona’s Song and others. Owned Glenisla

EJ. ELLIS was first heard of in rac- • ing as a capable gentleman rider and the owner of a grand little steeplechaser in Glenisla, who compiled a wonderful record in Southland some years ago. Glenisla was something of an idol with Southland racegoers for several years until he was fatally injured in a race at Winton. Ellis was later appointed as private trainer to Mr L. C. Hazlett, of Salisbury. He was immediately successful as a trainer and turned out many fine winners in the Hazlett colours, such horses as Pamplona, Palencia, Portside, Ravenna and Circulation coming under his care. Later he set up as a public trainer at Washdyke, where he still resides. Since his transfer to Washdyke Ellis has consistently turned out good win ners. Evidence of his ability as a trainer can be gauged from the fact that he has won the majority of important events on the racing calender, from two-year-old classics, important handicaps to all the principal hurdle and steeplechase eVents. His successes include the following: Loughrea (Dunedin Cup, Riverton Cup, Timaru Cup, Wellington Cup), Pamplona (Great Western twice); Ravenna (Invercargill Cup); Silver Coat (McLean Stakes);

Circulation (Dunedin Champagne Stakes); Kinnoull (Dunedin Champagne Stakes, Dunedin Guineas, Harcourt Stakes, Canterbury Cup, and Canterbury Champagne Stakes); Pink Coat (Harcourt Stakes, Canterbury. Champagne Stakes, Middle Park Plate and Canterbury Cup); Survoy (Great Northern . Steeplechase, Wellington Steeplechase); Passaform (Riverton Cup, Winton Cup) and others. Trained Nocturnus ARTHUR Ellis, now well established as a trainer at Riccarton, was first known in Southland as an amateur rider, but when he accepted a position as private trainer to Mr F. A. Price, being located at Rorke’s Drift Lodge at Invercargill, he was immediately successful. He had charge of such horses as Rioter, The Smuggler and Signaller. With The Smuggler he won many important handicaps, including the Dunedin Jockey Club Handicap, Riverton Cup; Great Autumn Handicap and third in the New Zealand Cup. At Riccarton he has also produced several winners including Nocturnus, to win the Grand National Steeplechase in 1937 while High Speed who finished third in the same race was another of his representatives. His most important success in the saddle was on Rorke’s Drift in the Winter Hurdles at Trentham. In recent seasons his team has not been as succcessful but Merry March has been a recent winner from his stable. Versatile Rider

BERT Ellis served his apprenticeship with F. D. Jones at Riccarton, and this combination proved most successful. His first winning ride was on that great horse Amythas at Wingatui in 1919; he also won on the second day and at the Invercargill Cup meeting a week later. He soon became recognized as a firstclass horseman and one of the most versatile and accomplished riders in the country. Although increasing weight has restricted his activities in recent years he is still in the first flight of New Zealand horsemen and in the spring rode Defaulter in his Australian engagements.- During his career Ellis has met with more ill-luck than most horsemen, and on three occasions when he had made preparations to ride in Australia, his plans were upset at the last moment. During the 1928-29 season he headed the jockeys’ championship with 61 successes, with his younger brother, L. J. Ellis, in second place. His leading cup successes include:— Auckland Cup (Fast Passage), Avondale Cup (Prodice), Wellington Cud (Loughrea and Vintage), Dunedin Cup (Loughrea), Awapuni Gold Cup (Vertigern, Nightmarch, and Wild Chase). Riverton Cup (Loughrea and Ravenna) Canterbury Cup (Royal Chief), Timaru Cup (Loughrea and Arikiwai), and Invercargill Cup (Ravenna). He has also ridden two Great Northern Derby winners, Silver Scorn and Red Manfred, five New Zealand Oaks winners, Korokio, Sweet Agnes, Lady Graceful, Peerless and Montessa, one New Zealand St. Leger winner, Beaupartir, and numerous other classic winners, though the New Zealand Derby has so far eluded him. Ellis has ridden the winners of many of the most important events in the Dominion, over country, over hurdles, in flat handicaps, and in classics, and he has also ridden with distinction in the Commonwealth. There have been few horsemen who have ever mixed their riding with such success as Ellis has done. Though he now confines his attention mainly to the flat, he has lost none of his ability over the fences with the same flair for that game as if he had been riding jumpers regularly throughout the season. Between the last Grand National meeting, when he rode both Padishah and Valpeen to victory on the second day, and his mount on Survoy in the Great Northern, he had not taken a ride over fences in public. He holds a wonderful record in leading jumping events—especially the Grand National Hurdle race which he has won on four occasions. His successful mounts have been Penury Rose, Whamcliffe and Padishah twice. Last winter he only had three rides in jumping races and he won all three— Survoy in the Great Northern Steeplechase and the Wellington Steeplechase and Padishah in the National Hurdles. Early Success

I J. ELLIS, the youngest member of A the family, was apprenticed to his brother Fred, at Invercargill, an association which met with great success. As an apprentice

he was outstandingly successful and on the completion of his term he removed to Riccarton. His services were in keen demand and he has won the majority of leading events on the calendar as well as important races in Australia. He eventually became leading jockey in the Dominion and he is still regarded as one of the finest riders in the country. On three occasions L. J. Ellis Was runner-up on the jockeys’ championship table until 193334 by heading the list with 83 winners. He was also leading jockey in New Zealand for the following two seasons. An accident in Australia a year or two back affected his eyesight, and unfortunately his career during the past two years, has been interrupted because of this. L. J. Ellis is one of the most popular members of his profession, and his services are always in keen demand. Like his elder brothers, he too, has tackled the big country, riding Snowfall in a race at Riccarton when his brother A. E. Ellis was injured and unable to take the mount. Second Generation A YOUNGER member of the Ellis family has also been in evidence in Southland in recent seasons, this being W. F. Ellis, who is apprenticed to his father, F. W. Ellis at Invercargill. W. F. Ellis is still only a lad but in the riding he has done he has shown that he is a promising young horseman, and one who will receive expert tuition in the profession for which he is naturally fitted.