Alexandra Club And Some Non-Tote History

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 250, 21 October 1944, Page 4 (Supplement)

Alexandra Club And Some Non-Tote History

'pHE case for the non-totalisator clubs has not been put in its correct focus, and perhaps a little of the history of the Alexandra Racing Club, which has functioned at Pirongia, on the northern edge of the King Country, since 1864, will give some indication of the position of the nontotalisator clubs.

Alexandra has never had a .totalisator permit, and probably would find such a thing rather more of a burden than a benefit, for attendances arc not large enough to warrant the expense of installing and operating the machine.

The year 1864 coincided with the Waikato War period and the epic defence of Orakau, only a dozen mile* away from Pirongia. There was considerable military activity around Alexandra (as it was then called) in 1864 and 1865, and later, by the Armed Constabulary who were engaged protecting the pioneer settlers from raids by the fierce Maniapotos, and their allies, especially the Waikatos, who had been chased out of their ancestral holdings by General Cameron's forces working south from Auckland. The Waikatos were especially hostile,, for their lands had been confiscated.

.The Alexandra Racing Club filled a definite purpose in those days, affording sport and recreation for the soldiery and the settlers, and the fact that the club has functioned ever since—Bo years—is an indication of its usefulness.

There have been times, it is true, when difficulty was experienced in carrying on—during a period when New Zealand was experiencing a slump until gold was found in large quantities at the Thames and Ohinemuri, and again during the Great War, while for the first two years of the present World War the club was in difficulties.

Had Some Good Ones , But on Boxing Day, 1943, a very successful race meeting eventuated, and there is every prospect of it being continued annually. The class of horse competing? Well, all sorts. For a time even a draught horse "Derby" figured on the programme; but primarily the club has catered for farmer-trained and owned horses, including trotters.

Some good horses have competed at Pirongia, including Te Kara, which later won one Auckland Cup and dead-heated for another with Muraahi. Many others of slightly less ability have raced at Pirongia, including that "gay deceiver" Spanner, a SOOOgns purchase earlier in his career.

The story of Spanner at Pirongia is perhaps worth telling. As indicated, Spanner had become unreliable, and would not put his "best foot foremost." He was accepted for in four events at Pirongia, and in the first two he stood on the mark, despite the vigour of his rider.

In the third event—they were all flag starts, by the way—he took it into his head to gallop, and he went off the mark like a streak. The others could not keep near him, and at the head of the straight he was fully 100 yds to the good, and going freely. His rider was all smiles as he cantered past the judge for the winning honours.

It was decided to start him again in the last race of the day, a five furlongs, affair. When. the. flag dropped, Spanner's rider gave a lift, but the bay horse was not having any; he just simply stuck his toes> in, and the rider shot over his head into the fern alongside the unfenced track. Spanner did not even attempt to clear out then; he stood while the jockey climbed back into the saddle, and trotted back to the enclosure, amid the curses of his supporters and the grins of those who knew the gelding's peculiarities. Some of the Winners Looking through the list of Alexandra Cup winners, I find that Te Taniwha won the event twice, in 1904 and 1905, and then comes such names (taken at random) as Anna Lombard (later a fair sort of hurdler), Glenspire (a versatile performer, which won the cup again five years later), Sam (a double winner), and Rarangi (three times, the first occasion with 10.8 on her back, then with 9.13 and 9.5):

In 1928, Ramblin' Kid won, and I then went on to Ellerslie and won the New Year Hurdles. The following Boxing Day the winner was Spalpiko, a .steeplechaser later on. Mia Stella also a winner, and she was a good hurdler later. The same can perhaps be said of Valpai, the 1934 winner. Tuaheahe, Requiem and Raceline won the next three cups. Last year Otoro was the winner.

The Alexandra Club has always had a fine set of officials, all acting in an honorary capacity, and perhaps the president with the longest term of office was Mr. Fred Potts, at that time chairman of the Otorohanga County Council and nowadays living quietly in Hamilton. The present president is Mr. J. Lindsay Macky, and his son, Mr. Jack Mackv (owner of the Sydney Cup winner Contact as the head of his stud) is the honorary secretary.

Away back at least half a century ago Mr. William Searancke was the secretary; in fact, be was virtually the whole club, for he acted as handicapper, treasurer, starter and secretary all at the same time—and for several years, too.

Others that come to mind are Mr. Tom Steel, for two or three decades clerk of the scales and treasurer; Mr. Harry Weal, for 25 years honorary handicapper, except when he had a horse of his own entered; and Mr. Wm. Perrin, whose official status was stipendiary steward for the trotting events, but between times one of the greatest boosters and workers for the club, especially in attracting entries and donations towards the stakes.

Harry Weal, before he took on handicapping for the club, rode and owned several winners at Pirongia, but he never had the satisfaction of owning a cup winner. Incidentally, he rode on many other courses in the province over a long term of years, and is still actively identified with racing, being an officer of the Waipa Racing Club.

Some of the officials have been identified with the club's management for well over 40 years. Perhaps the man with the longest record of membership was the late Mr. William Chappell, whose tally exceeded the half-century. He died only about four years ago, and year after year he had attended up to the date of his death.

A Picnic Day for Settlers Stake money is provided from gate receipts, donations, etc., and usually range in total value from £50 to £100. Trophies are not uncommon, generous sportsmen donating them, from silver cups to racing bridles and whips. Each meeting is a "picnic" day for the settlers over a wide area, and many townspeople from Hamilton, Te Awamutu and other centres make a practice of attending.

A few years ago, when the Hon. W. E. Parry stated publicly that he was desirous of encouraging clubs that catered primarily for farmerowned and trained horses, he was asked if the Government would release some of the huge sum collected by way of totalisator tax and make it available for the non-totalisator clubs, perhaps on a pound for pound subsidy on gate receipts up to £100 per club per annum.

The fact that at that time there were only eight non-totalisator clubs in the Dominion (including the Chatham Islands) holding race meetings meant that the Government would have a total responsibility for £800 out of the £1,000,000 or so received made the originators of the suggestion hopeful, but the Minister said the idea could not be adopted, at least for the present, though he recognised it had merits.

The originators had in mind asking that the Racing Conference be authorised to issue licenses to nontotalisator clubs to a limit of 20, so that there would not be a total outlay by the Government exceeding £2000 a year—out of totalisator taxati6n.

They also realised that Mr. Parry had no control over the Government's purse strings, but they hope that some day, after the war, Mr Nash, or his successor, will "loosen up."