MASTERTON'S FIRST RACECOURSE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9038, 3 March 1908, Page 5

MASTERTON'S FIRST RACECOURSE.

AN INTERESTING REMINISCENCE.

A MEETING IN THE "SIXTIES."

The following brief but interesting account of Masterton's earliest attempt at revelry in the "Sport of Kings" has been supplied us by an 1 old identity of the district. "The first race meeting ever held in Masterton was an event of the yr ar 1865. The course was a lane which now is the important thoroughfare of Bannister street. The starting post was at the back of where the Club Hotel stables now stand. The 'field' had to race down the lane, past the late Miss Jean's cottage as far as Wiodroofe's, where a post had to be turned, and this marked the 'home turn' —the return course being followed to the judge's box. "There was a gully some three or four feet deep at a point in the course, which had to be negotiated, hut the jockeys of the 'sixties' paid little heed to trifles of that sort, and the racing was a matter of huge enjoyment to the settlement. "Racing . horses was not the only excitement provided at the inaugural meeting, as various sporting events for athletes were included in the day's programme. In the horse events Wallace Smith won ihe 'hurdles' witlj a horse called Moropuku, a bay horse belonging to the same owner winning another event. To give an idea of the quality of the competing horses it is interesting to he told that when Smith's horse won the second event a protest was lodged bv\ the owner of the second horse on the \ ground that Smith's horses were trained! The winner of the double had to go 'on the carpet' before the stewards, and give his solemn word that his horges were not trained. He explained that they had had a lot of hard work cattle mustering, and this had probably improved their condition. This explanation settled the protest, and Smith was awarded both events.

"Among other competing horses were Master Bob (ridden by Dick Tankersley), Micky Free (ridden by Tom Tankersley), J. Harding's Fanny, and a horse brought out by W. lorns. J. McKcnzie (Fernridge) and Jack Murphy were also among the riders."