Jack’s final lap around the track
A veteran horse trainer is being remembered as a character who loved people and was extremely generous.
Foxton man Jack Scott was farewelled at a service at The Loop Restaurant and Bar yesterday. Scott, 90, died at the scene of a crash on State Highway 1, near Motuiti Rd, just north of Foxton on April 29.
There was a long string of tributes from family and friends at the service, then his casket, adorned with his racing colours, was taken for one last lap of Foxton Racecourse.
Scott had been involved with horses all his life but did not start training horses until he was 60 and became a stalwart of the racing community.
Scott’s son Andrew said Scott was a character who lived a long wonderful life and loved what he did every day. ‘‘He was just one of the good guys in the game,’’ Andrew said. ‘‘Dad, he was a really good fella.’’
He said the family didn’t have a lot, but they always had something to do on the farm when he was growing up. Riding and workingwith horseswas a special skill Scott taught the family, he said.
Other speakers said Scottwas caring and willing to help others.
He was a ‘‘splendid horseman who put it all into the horses’’, a ‘‘lovely man’’ and ‘‘a real character, loved people, generous to a fault’’.
Foxton Racing Club president Steve Kupa said racing was full of hard-working people who kept the industry ticking over.
‘‘Jack was the ultimate battler of the racing industry in New Zealand. He was one of the last two or three to be training in their 90s.’’
Kupa said Scott did a great deal for his animals and they were his dream. ‘‘He bred them, fostered them, did whatever he could within his budget to get the ultimate racehorse.’’
Celebrant Trevor Solomon read a eulogy from Scott’s sister Vera and said Scott was aman of the land who was involved with horses all his life.
‘‘He was awilling worker and never afraid of hard work. He was working with horses until the time he passed. It was something he loved to do.’’
From Waitohi just north of Rongotea, he rode horses to school and was a keen sportsman, involved in athletics, wrestling and rugby.
He went to Feilding High School, did compulsory military training at Waiouru and was involved with young farmers.
He started out dairy farming, then worked on a stud farm and started training horses in the early 1990s.
Tramore, a horse trained by Scott, finished second in the last race at Whanganui a day after his death.
Te Awahou Funeral Services hosted the funeral.