SPORTING.

Shannon News, 1 June 1923, Page 2

SPORTING.

♦ Mr Ewan Campbell, president o.f the Wanganui Jockey Club, celebrated his 80th birthday last Saturday. He was entertained by the officers of the Club and presented with a silver salver. Mr Campbell was much affected on rising to reply. He remarked that he was present at the first race meeting in 1848, when he was five years old. The youngsters of the time gathered on a sand bill where the goal was now situated. The race course was surrounded by high manuka, hut there was a cleared space where the road now came round. Clothes at the time were scarce for the youngitevs, but they enjoyed the races thorough- . ly. Hje. could recall the following i meeting as if it were yesterday, as a native who was riding a horse fell at the turn and was killed. Racing for a period became a blank until 1874. He had horses named Cossack and Shylock. After the war racing was resumed, and he had been ccnnected for forty years with it. He had made up his mind not to bet, and never did as he wanted to keep c’car i of monetary interests while acting in I' a judicial capacity. An old man _ found that his friends dropped one [ by one at the wayside, and were it { not for th e fact that he went on mak- • ing friends be would be left alone. He l felt that be had kept young by association with young people. When his time came his only regrets would he leaving behind the real friends that he had, who had given him so much comfort in his old age. It was very difficult to return thanks, but he (lid appreciate what they (had done te celebrate his 80th birthday. He had done his best for racing. He would serve the club as long as they thought he was any use to them, but they would only have to hint at any time, and he would willingly step out and let another man take his place.