IMPRESSIVE RECORD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 67, 19 March 1936, Page 4

IMPRESSIVE RECORD

ROY REED’S SUCCESSES WELL-KNOWN JOCKEY’S DEATH FATAL FALL AT TRENTHAM Rider of the winner of the Wanganui Cup in 1923 (Sunart), 1926 (Income;, anj 1929 (Rapine), Roy Reed is no cussful trainer in Melbourne for sevtbe death of Reed, one of the Dominion’s most prominent and respected horsemen, marred the final day s racing at tne Wellington Racing Club’s Autumn meeting at Trentham on Tuesday. Reed’s mount (Hunting Cat.) came down near the six furlongs post in the President’s Handicap, the principal event of tire day, and as a result of the injuries he received he died in the Wellington Hospital at 6.5 p.m. It was quickly known on the course that Reed s condition was very grave. He was removed to the ambulance room, and on the doctor's report that the injuries indicated cerebral hemorrhage h-e was quickly sent in to the Wellington Hospital. A better report was received on the course before the close of the racing, stating that his pulse was stronger, but deatu came iu the evening, about three and ahalf hours after the accident. Reed, who was aged about 36 years, was one of three famous brothers, Ashley, Roy, and Con. Con was killed some yeans ago in a similar accident at Taumarunui, and only Ashiey, a succssful trainer in Melbourne for several years past, now survives. Roy Reed began racing about twenty years ago, and at first he was apprenticed to Joe Scott, then training liorses, and afterwards caretaker for a time at Trentham. He did not immediately come under notice as a rider of the merit he was to develop, though it was not long befoie his services were m

keener demand. He was engaged to ride lor J. 11. Jeiferd’s stable, which at that time sheltered Mr. A. B. Williams’ strong team, and many a good winner he rode in the black-and-w ailc chequers. He made many trips to Australia, and in recent years he spent part of every season across the Tasman. Apart from being a great horseman, Roy was of a quiet and unassuming disposition, ana a gentleman iu every sense *of the word. He was one of the few jockeys who had won the great treble, the New Zealand, Auckland, and Wellington Cups. His successes in the New Zealand Cup were on Scion (1923) and Nighimurch (1930), in tbe Auckland Cup on Depredation (1916) and Rapine (1925), and in the Wellington Cup on Rewi Polo (1919), Kilmuon (1920), Maroha (1921), Rapine (1923), %tar Stranger (1928), and Compris (1932). He uas the pilot of many of the greatest horses in 100 land, and he was successful in nearly every important race on tae calendar, his judgment being particularly astute iu long-distance events, though he also had a great pair of hands for two-year-olds. Only on two occasions in the last twelve years, the 1924-25 and 1925-26 seasons, did Reed actually head the winning jockeys’ list, but, in spite of his frequent kngtthy spells in Australia, he usually was near the top of tne Dominion list. He was a close second in 1928, and on three occasions he rode over seventy winners in the season. Last season he was seventh with 45 wins, and already tuis term since his return from Syaney after the spring racing he had piloted ovei twenty winners. His last success was on the two-year-old Candico at Napier Park recently. A few years ago Reed married Miss Scott, of Rand wick, daughter of the late Mr. J. Scott. He is survived by his widow and one son. Con, and by his bi other Ashley and sister, Mrs. W. Bell, of Levin. Mrs. Reed was present at Trentham on Tuesday and accompanied her husband to hospital. An inquiry into the mishap was opened on the course, at which tne police w#e represented, and it was adjourned. The Wanganui Jockey Club will be represented at the funeral which wiU take place in Wellington this atternoon leaving the mortuary chapel, 2o Kent Terrace, at 2 o’clock for the Karori Cemetery. ACCIDENTAL FALL

HUNTING CAT INCIDENT JUDICIAL INQUIRY ( Per Press Association. ) WELLINGTON, March 18. The judicial inquiry into the fall of Hunting Cat, when the jockey Roy Reed received fatal injuries, in the President's Handicap-at Trentham yesterday, was concluded at the office of the Wellington Racing Club to-day. The stewards, after hearing the evidence of riders in the race and also from their own observations, came to the conclusion that the fall was caused bv Hunting Cat getting on to the heels of Big Dook, and that the occurrence was purely accidental.