| PEOPLE |
YEAR: 1997
 |
South Canterbury harness racing lost one of its most recognisable characters with the death of Sam Henderson early this month. Mr Henderson, 77, synonymous with harness racing in South Canterbury, trained standardbreds for 40 years at Orari where he was born and educated.
Although he tried many jobs, including bush work, solo butchering, baker, grocer, barman and shearing, training standardbreds was what he wanted to do.
Because of his stature Mr Henderson was tempted to become a jockey. As he went to school with the Skelton brothers who were with Lionel Pratt and with 150 horses trained at Orari it was not surprising that he rode work.
It was Bob Townley who gave Sam advice and encouragement regarding the standardbreds. By 1955 Mr Henderson had a trials drivers licence and at his first outing drove three winners and two second placegetters. His first training and driving win was behind Gold De Oro at Greymouth on March 10, 1956. His last winning drive was 30 years later when Imperial Jack won at Marlborough on June 21 when he was forced to surrender his horse drivers licence.
Mr Henderson was known to put the horses on the float and leave for the races at any time of the day or night, he appeared to be able to go without sleep for long periods. At one shearing shed he and Laurie Patrick worked through until well after midnight to get the job done so they could go to the races. The effort was made worth-while when the horse won at long odds. On another trip round the South Island he was said to have knocked over a power pole in Christchurch and a veranda in Kaikoura.
Mr Henderson was always grateful to the owners who supported him but Muir Thomson was special. Mr Thomson was said to have tied a horse up at the stables, put £750 in an envelope with a note telling him to train it until the money ran out. While Mr Henderson trained many useful horses over the years including Minstra, Pee, Star Land, Young Trouble, Seafield Dream and Brian Hanover, he was robbed of a potential top liner when Every Chance broke down.
Winning or losing Mr Henderson's demeanour didn't change, the trademark roll-your-own invariably in the corner of his mouth.
Credit: NZ HRWeekly 24Sep97