WANGANUI JOCKEY CLUB

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2929, 15 November 1916, Page 12

WANGANUI JOCKEY CLUB

A RACECOURSE DE LUXE

Now Zealand is noted for its pretty racecourses, but there avo few quite so' attractive to tlio general public as that of the prosperous. Vauganui Jockey Club. The racing history of Wanganui goes hack to 1848,' when. the major portion of the pupulatiou consisted of Her Majesty's Imperial troops. Tlio officers of the regiments were notably fond of racing, and some of the earlier steeplechases, in which the jockeys were officers and men of the regiments, were probably as enjoyable as any that.-are held to-day. if they had not the blue blood in the racing stook, they had it in tho jockeys. Mr. John Pawsou, one of the oldest residents, tells a rather good story of a steeplechase run at Arnmoho in'the 'fifties, when the bandmaster of the 10th (Royal Irish) Regiment, a German named Burgemann, rode one of the mounts. "I think ho fell off at every fence," said Mr. Pawson, "but the horse waited patiently on each occasion for him to remount, and being a horse with a good turn of speed on the flat managed to get ahead as they approached the' last fence. On this occasion the horse baulked at the jump, but over went the bandmaster. As he cleared the last fence first he excitedly claimed the race, but was ruled out as his horse did not follow him!"

The first properly organised race meeting was held in 1848 on the flat, that is now partly the cemetery and partly the Recreation Ground. As long as the regiments were huthe district the sport flourished, hut after they left the interest faded, and a period of inanition ensued. In 1874 the old club was reconstructed and under the guiding hand of the late Mr. Freeman R. Jackson (the secretary) the club flourished exceedingly. That gentleman retained office untill9o3, and it was his brains and initiative that were responsible for most of the forward movements made by the club. The course is one of the, best in the country—it is

of the latest and most approved saucer formation, which makes for good racing and easy going for,4ho horses. Its grounds are laid out with an artistic eye for the beautiful. There 'amidst the laws and fern clumps are charming little lakes, spanned by rustic bridges, and gracefully enlivened by a collection of swans, ducks, and other water fowl, whilst golden pheasants and other rare and beautiful birds add new colours to the scene. About three years ago the' public grandstand ■ was extended, so that it now provides seating accommodation for nearly 7000 people, and the new totalisator house is as good as anything of the kind in the country.