By his hat shall ye know him!
Halpin’s hat is as well known in racing circles as Mr Lang’s bull is to the political arena. During a lull in the racing on Saturday a select coterie of punters were seated in the stand discussing the various events decided, and to be decided, when a horse attached to a sulky was noticed moving swiftly along the flat making for the Kensington entrance.
There was something familiar about the driver and glasses were immediately trained on the contraption .The driver was sitting up like Jackie, but of course his face was not visible. Sudden recognition dawned on the crowd. Sure enough it was George Halpin:they knew him by his hat .
Newspaper and date unknown
“Pony Track” Trainer Dies
Sydney Morning Herald page 22 June 3 1966
Former successful trainer ,George Halpin died suddenly on Wednesday night after attending the race meeting at Canterbury. Halpin , 82 this year , retired as an active trainer 15 years ago.
He was a leading trainer on the former “pony”tracks in Sydney and continued his success when those clubs came under AJC jurisdiction in 1913. One of the best sprinters to be trained was absorbent and he won City Tattersalls Cup in 1935 with Fairoic. The funeral will be today at the Woronora Lawn Cemetery after a service at Hardy’s Chapel Rockdale at 230pm.
