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Welsh point-to-point racing has lost one of its legendary characters with the death of Haverfordwest’s Bert Lavis at the age of 87.
Bert, who sent out numerous winners from his Simpson Cross training yard, was a jovial and friendly man. Before he became involved in horseracing, he had been a successful trainer of greyhounds when the family had resided in Birmingham.
More years ago now than I care to remember, I had dubbed Bert the “Welsh Wizard” as he was an expert with problem horses. He put Welsh hunt-racing on the map in 1995 when he trained Handsome Harvey, unbeaten in 10 starts that year, to win the national Grand Marnier Champion Horse Trophy.
Before joining the paid ranks, Hywel Davies – who went on to win the Grand National and rode more than 700 winners under Rules – learnt a lot from Bert when riding his point-to-pointers.
Cowbridge’s John Llewellyn rode a lot of winners for Bert, including his Beau Hawke, which won two good hunter chases at Sandown Park and Newbury in 1977. John said: “I owe so much to Bert. He always had his horses straight and whether we had a winning day or a losing one, he was always his usual cheerful self.”
Bert had a knack of winning races with moderate horses and had made his name in the 1970s with a little grey horse called Mr Silver which won six races for him. Mr Silver had been disapppointing in English point-to-points but enjoyed a new lease of life when Bert trained him and went on to win a hunter chase, beating Some Man at Hereford races. I also remember John Llewellyn winning on him at the North Hereford Point-To-Point in 1975.
West Wales area secretary Beverley Thomas said: “Many of Wales’ best jockeys rode for Bert and I remember on one occasion he went through the card.”
Former leading rider Dai Jones said: “He was a true horseman in many ways, knowledgable and a very nice man.” Former Welsh champion Tim Jones added: “He was a kind, helpful and clever man.”
Many years ago now, Bert told me that one race that gave him a lot of pleasure to win was the Western Mail & Echo men’s open race at the Glamorgan Hunt Point-To-Point Steeplechases. No wonder – on that occasion he won with former winning hurdler Life Boat, a 33-1 outsider.
Bert Lavis always had a friendly welcome when I saw him at the races and the Welsh point-to-point scene will be a lot poorer for his passing. His funeral is tomorrow (June 21) at Narberth Crematorium at 2.30pm.
Meanwhile, congratulations to Rhondda farmer’s daughter Emily Farr on winning another big race in New Zealand. Emily rode Raisafuasho, a popular winner for trainer Ann Brown, which gave all the other runners a big start.
Emily said: “Early in the race when I was a long way off the pace, I was saying, ‘Come on Rai’, but he won easily in the end.”
Email your racing news and views to brianlee4@virginmedia. com or call 029 2073 6438.