Family history behind the naming of racehorse Henry Hubber
"He seemingly made enough money from his gold mining and store-keeping to get into farming, eventually owning a number of farms around Southland."
Jamie Searle is a long-time racing writer. For more of his work head to the Southland Thoroughbreds Facebook page.
Southland racehorse Henry Hubber is named after an Englishman who arrived at Bluff on a ship from Cornwall in 1879.
He is the grandfather of Anne Michel, whose partner John Bishop, of Cambridge, owns the racehorse, Henry Hubber.
Michel shared details of her grandfather's life in New Zealand.
"He spent a lot of time gold mining on the West Coast and there are several interesting reports of his exploits and the effort required to travel back and forth on foot in often very trying conditions as the tracks from the head of Lake Wakatipu to the West Coast (Big Bay and Double Bay), and Mt Aspiring where he spent some time, were only just being formed," Michel said.
"He seemingly made enough money from his gold mining and store-keeping to get into farming, eventually owning a number of farms around Southland."
Other interesting facts about Hubber include his horse Barney winning the Otautau Cup in 1895, seven years later he put his name forward to be a councillor for the Wallace Council (no record of outcome).
From 1904 to 1908, Hubber competed in ploughing competitions, winning several prizes, as well as for having the best horse teams and largest family in attendance.
In 1913 he played in the first game of the newly formed Heddon Bush Rugby Club, while in the same year his stallion Pallas stood at a Heddon Bush stud and subsequently sired successful racehorses.
In 1920, Hubber gained contracts to carry out roading (gravelling) work for Wallace County.
Information gathered for a family reunion in Invercargill in 1986, showed Hubber had 37 grandchildren, 105 great grandchildren and 51 great great grandchildren.
One of his grandsons, also named Henry Hubber, but also known as Harry Hubber, set a cycling record, from Christchurch to Invercargill, of 22 hr 39min 40 sec, in 1943.
Meanwhile, Henry Hubber the racehorse will attempt to stretch his winning sequence to four at Riccarton on Saturday.Â
Trainer Sally McKay is entering him in an open 1200m. Henry Hubber has won six races in 18 starts.
Hi Pat, appreciate your interest Harry broke the Christchurch to Invercargill cycling record twice, the second time was the early 60s. Guess you recall the second time.
Yes I remember Harry cycling chch to invercargill but it wasn't in 1943 .perhaps a typing error.