WAIRARAPA RACING CLUB

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 December 1940, Page 3

WAIRARAPA RACING CLUB

A PROGRESSIVE INSTITUTION

Interesting Past History -

MEN WHO BORE THE BRUNT OF EARLY MANAGEMENT

In. connection with the Wairarapa Racing Club, whose New Year meeting will open on the beautiful Tauherenikau racecourse on Wednesday the late Mr J. P. Russell, who was president of the club atAhe time of his death in 1906, had held that position ror 31 years, while the late Mr H. Wardell was secretary and treasurer of the Wairarapa Jockey Club since 1881, was a vice-pre-sident from 1882 till 1906, and was president from 1906 till his death in 1912. The late Mr W. E. Bidwill, 0.8. E., was a steward till 1889, vice-president 18891912, president 1912 until his death in 1933. The late Mr Q. Donald was a steward in 1896, vice-president 19071933, president 1933-1938. Mr J. W. Card, clerk of scales 1897, was a steward in 1902, deputy judge 1911, hon. judge 1913, president 1938, up to the present, present.

The trustees of the Wairarapa Racecourse Reserve are Messrs R. W. Matthews, J. Carne Bidwill, R. T. Cundy, J. W. Card and Q. Donald. The present officers of the Wairarapa Racing Club are: —Patron, Mr Thomas Benton; president, Mr J. W. Card: vice-presidents, Messrs A. Campbell Pearce, D. H. S. Riddiford and D. C. ■ Collins; stewards. Messrs R. N. Barton, E. R. W. Bidwill, W. Howard Booth, D. Cameron, R. A. Donald. Roy Donald, J. G. Donald, W. J. Martin, E. D. Martin, C. J. Nix, Percy Tilson and J. F. Thompson; judge, Mr Ulic Shannon; handicaper, Mr A. V. O’Brien; starter. Mr M. Crimmins clerk of scales, Mr W. C. Deller; hon. surgeons, Drs. G. S. Sharp, T. D. M. Stout, J. M. Coutts and R. N. Campbell; veterinary surgeon, Mr S. Fletcher; clerk of course. Mr Trevor Tully; hon. treasurer, Mr 11. Lawson; secretary, Mr N. C. C. Shepherd. x JUBILEE YEAR. January 1 and 2. 1924, saw the fiftieth year of racing on the Tauherenikau Racecourse Reserve, when the jubilee meeting was commemorated by the presentation of two cups, one donated by the president, Mr W. E. Bidwiil, 0.8. E., and the other by the stewards. The former attached to the Wairarapa Cup Handicap, which was won by Mr J. Carmont’s ch. m. Helen Rufus, was presented by the late the Hon. Sir Walter Clarke Buchanan, while the latter, attached to the President’s Handicap the second day, was won by Mr E. Penman’s ch. m. Happy Days, and was presented by the Hon. A. D. McLeod.

The jubilee meeting, aided by fine weather, good fields and a large attendance, was most successful. During the year 1923-24 the club erected a new tea-kiosk and made a commencement with the erection of a new grandstand by completing the first wing, the total expenditure, with these and other improvements, approximating £9OOO. Visitors are always charmed with the beautiful surroundings of Tauherenikau, and members of the district generally have reasonable promise of one of the most picturesque grounds and best appointed clubs in the Dominion. A PROGRESSIVE CLUB. The club has a great record behind it, and is one of the most progressive institutions of its kind in the Dominion. It is famed for its excellent management and for the liberal manner in which it caters for owners, trainers, and the public alike. So long as this policy is in existence, the club must make progress and continue to lake its stand among the principal racing institutions in the Dominion.