OWNED A DERBY WINNER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 97, 26 April 1930, Page 7

OWNED A DERBY WINNER

WAIRARAPA SPORTSMAN DEMISE OF MR C. ELGAR Though he had owned but one horse capable of winning the New Zealand Derby, the late Mr C. E. Elgar was a generous purchaser of yearlings and a valued supporter of the racing game in New Zealand. Thus his sudden death during the progress of the Wairarapa Racing Club’s meeting at Tauherenikau on Saturday has removed from the farming and sporting communities one of their best-known figures. The late Mr Elgar was very prominent in the sheepbreeding industry and he was one of the oldest of Wairarapa ’s settlers, his estates including Fernside, near Featherston, and Clay Creek, near Martinborough.

His courage as a buyer of thoroughbred horses was never rewarded in proportion to the extent of his purchases, but from time to time he has had some useful horses carrying his colours. During the present season they included Vertigern, Tenderden, Count Palataine, King Midas, Grecian, Kalmuk, Appleaore, and others of leaser note. Vertigern was his best winner, this Australian-bred horse winning the Wellington Cup and Awapuni Gold Cup as well as several good handicaps. With another Australian purchase, Black Ronald, Mr Elgar won the New Zealand Derby at Riccarton, but that was the only “Blue Ribband’ that fell to his owner, though the prices he paid fur youngsters on several occasions ran well into four figures. For some considerable time he was chairman of directors of the Wellington Meat Export Company, and for years also was a director of the National Bank of New Zealand. He married a daughter of Mr Charies Pharazyn, of Longwood, Featherston, and had an only daughter who married Colonel Hamilton, a son of Lord Claude Hamilton, and lived in England after her marriage. She predeceased her fathe?. Mr Elgar was 75 years of age at his death, and only a few days from his 76th birthday. He was a vicepresident of the Wairarapa Racing Club. He is survived by his widow.