FIRST RACE MEETING OF H.B.J.C.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 94, 7 May 1937, Page 47 (Supplement)

FIRST RACE MEETING OF H.B.J.C.

Held at Pakowhai in March, 1875 B00KMAKERS PRESENT The first race meeting after the formation of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club was held at Pakowhai on March 18, and 1875. The racecourse at Meeanee on which races were generally run had been silted up and it was impossible to use it, so that it was arxanged to hold the meeting at Pakowhai, where a very good course was marked out, and as this was close to the railway line it enabled a considerable number of people to go out by rail. The attendance was eonsidered very large indeed for that period. Bookmakers, operating in a small way, were on the course, and this helped to increase the interest in the various events. The meeting was a two-days fixture, with five races each day. - The judge was Mr Eobert Stuart, J.P., but whether he was selected for that position because of his legal status is not known. Mr Gavin Peacock was starter, and Messrs Boper and Lopdell clerks of course, while Major W, Routledge filled the position of clerk of the scales, and Mr G. E. G. Richardson carried out the dutles of secretary. It is interesting to-day to note the names of the owners and of their horses that took part in the meeting. It will be noticed that native owners figured prominently in the list, and among these owners was Arihi, a leading Maori chieftainess, usually styled by Europeans, Princess Alice. In the f ollowing extracts, culled from the Hawke 's Bay Herald of that period, napies of placed horses and starters, with the names of owners, are given, but no description of each race, which is hardly needed at so long an interval of time. Names of riders are not given in the published Teport. The f ollowing were the results: — -