THE JOCKEYS’, LIST.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18342, 30 May 1931, Page 19 (Supplement)

THE JOCKEYS’, LIST.

HECTOR 'GRAY’S RECORD”

DOMINION’S LEADER.

The Dominion’s loading Jookey, Hector Gray, who rode his 100th winner of the eoaeon when To Hole ooored In the Awaklno Haok Handloap at To Awamutu on Saturday, has now inorsased his total to 106. The remarkable manner In which Gray retains hla skill as a horseman Is at the present time one of the principal topics of conversation among racing men In this country.

At the same time there are a few critics who allege that the standard o' race riding in New Zealand has deteriorated during the last few years, says a writer in the Taranaki Herald. Be that as it may, Gray has more than held his own when he has gone overseas, to Australia, England, Franoe and Belgium, 'and"he also* did the sanie in New Zealand over twenty years /.ago, when he-was opposed to such 'artists of the pigskin as C. Jenkins, >L. H. Hewitt, J. Buchanan, A. Oliver, R. E. Hatch, B, Deeley, H. Cairns, S. Reid, and several others. At about thatnime the Standard of race riding in New Zealand was considered to be the equal of the best in the world.

Hfs First Rids.

Gray had his Arst ride in a race In 1902, on a horse named King Edward, owned by Dr. Paget, of Stratford, at Wanganui. Ills ilrst win was on Rustique, a horse owned by the late Mr J. Mouat, of New Plymouth. Since that time he has ridden in thousands of races, and he has handled hundreds of winners.

iG.-ay’s first trip overseas was In 01J, when he went to Australia to /Ida Mr G. D. Greenwood's horses, including Vice-Admiral and Plerene, *Tha trip ended disastrously, for the team did not win a race, and Gray wa« left behind in Sydney, in a private Tioepital, suffering from rheumatic fever, Oray went back to Australia in 19 l under engagement to fide Wallalo in the Australian Gup in -Melbourne, which he duly won. Going on to Sydney, t/) ride the same horse, he came under the displeasure of the stewards, and was placed under t lie ban for two years. Visit to England. In 1921 Gray went to England, under an engagement to ride Sir Cunllife ■Owen’s horses, and he rode there for two seasons with a good deal of success. His first ride In England was a winning one, on Sir Cunliffc Owen’s Spearwort in the Ascot Stakes. Among the many horses on which he won while in England was Hunting Song, who at the present time is a successful sire In New Zealand. Gray also rode over the hurdles while in England with a fair measure of success, while his one and only ride over the obstacles in New Zealand resulted in a victory on Hyrax at Gisborne. Of the hundreds of good horses that Gray has ridden, ho gives the palm to Sasanof as being the truest racehorse, for the reason that the horse was one of those rare exceptions, a horn stayer and also a brilliant sprinter. When Gray went to England tie was accompanied by liis son Joe. Young Gray did some riding later in the Dominion, but bo became too heavy.

He is now flrmly established as a trainer at Takanlni, vvhere a number of Auckland trainers have their headquarters. With the champion two-year-old Bronze Eagle, also Havering and Vandyke, he has been very successful lately, and he seems on the way to make a name as a trainer.