HANDICAPPER RETIRES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 206, 31 July 1937, Page 4

HANDICAPPER RETIRES.

MR J. E. HENRYS EULOGISED. When a letter was received at the annual meeting of the Feilding Jockey Club, last evening, from Mr J. E. Henrys intimating that he wished to tender his resignation from the position of handicapper, after 50 years’ service in that capacity, members were unanimous in voicing their appreciation of his work. The retiring president, Mr W. G. Fry moved that iUr Henrys’s resignation he accepted with regret, and that he be made a life member of the club. Mr Fry said that Mr Henrys had been a member of the club for a lengthy period of years and had always paid his subscription, although it had not been incumbent upon him to do so. The motion was seconded by Mr E. Goodbehere, who said that he had been associated with Mr Henrys in the early days prior to his election as handicapper. Not only had Mr Henrys been handicapper to the Feilding Jockey Club, but he had also acted in that capacity for numerous clubs throughout the Dominion. The Feilding club had been the first to appoint Mr Henrys handicapper, and therefore it was with the Feilding club that he had commenced his wonderful career. Mr Henrys had always attended to his work efficiently, and there had not been nny “walk-overs” as a result of his assessment of weights. Mr Henrys’s name would go down in the Dominion’s Turf history as one of the most outstanding handicappers ever.- known. (Applause.) Mr R. J. Harper (president) also supported the motion, stating that it was right that the services of Mr Henrys should be fittingly recognised. He had been a loyal servant. Mr T. O’Neill endorsed the remarks of the previous speakers and the motion was carried unanimously.

Mr Henrys’s letter read as follows: “It is with sincere regret and reluctance that 1 beg most lespectfully to ask the Feilding Jockey Club to permit me to relinquish the office of handicapper. Since the year 1888 I have enjoyed the confidence and loyalty of the club. No words of mine can truly express niy heartfelt gratitude for same. I compiled the handicap for an extra hack race on the old racecourse, which was placed on the programme through Waitangi having a walk-over in tiie hurdle race, Easter fixture, April 2, 1888. The Feilding Jockey Club then appointed me handicapper for the first meeting, December, 1888, on the present- racecourse. 1 was elected a steward of the Feilding Jockey Club in-1888 and 1889, which means that I was a member of the club since 1887. - Therefore, I may truthfully claim that this is ray fiftieth year as handicapper for the Feilding Jockey Club, likewise a member.

“The most pleasing and eventful years lor the Feilding Jockey Club was the season 1905-0(3. Feilding was the only club in New Zealand that had no race on its spring and Easter programmes of less value than 100 so'vs. Then again in 1904-05 the totalisator turnover for the two days at Easter exceeded that of Auckland in three days and Canterbury two days. The New Zealand Turf Register will confirm these facts I have mentioned, also the club’s totalisator record of £187,210 in the, year 1920-21. lam enclosing a list of clubs in New Zea. land that have honoured me with their confidence. If 1 have achieved success in my walk of life I want the executive and members of the Feilding Jbckey Club to share with me that satisfactory record, because the Feilding Jockey Club was the first club to honour me with its loyalty. “In conclusion, I can only state this letter has l>een a trying and touching one for me to compile. . Wishing the club the best possible success.”