| PEOPLE |
YEAR: 1989
 |
Allan Holmes, son of the legendary Free Holmes and brother of 'the Maestro' Maurice, died last Wednesday. He was 78.
Allan became the equal-youngest reinsman to drive a NZ Cup winner when at age 21 he partnered Harold Logan, then trained by Dick Humphreys, to win the Cup from 60 yards. He joined James Bryce jnr, who was the same age when he drove the 1923 NZ Cup winner Great Hope.
Mr Holmes, won his second NZ Cup with Gold Bar, who he bred and trained. Gold Bar, who became the first NZ-bred pacer to break 2:00 for a mile with a 1:59.6 time-tial at Addington in 1942, won the Cup at his fifth attempt. The Grattan Loyal entire netted 22 victories in all, and later became a successful sire.
Mr Holmes was joint leading reinsman in the 1945/46 season, during which he drove Great Northern Derby winner, Local Gold. He at one stage employed notable Templeton trainer Derek Jones.
Mr Holmes part-owned and trained NZ Derby winners Congo Song and Blue. Congo Song later won an Inter-Dominion heat; Blue was renowned for setting a world mile record for a yearling of 2:09.2, and ran fourth as a 3-year-old in an Auckland Cup. He also had shares in 1952 Dominion Handicap winner Precaution, and 1987 NZ Trotting Stakes victor, Kami. The last good horse he trained was Brase, who won eight including the Forbury 4-year-old Championship.
Credit: NZ HRWeekly 14Mar98