One hundred years since first Marlborough Cup

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33791, 13 March 1975, Page 9

One hundred years since first Marlborough Cup

It is 100 years since the first running of the Marlborough Gup, but because there were no contests from 1894 to 1902, and none in 1942, the year of the hundredth cup is some little way off yet.

But no matter. The enthusiasts of the Marlborough Racing Club feel that this year is still something special, and stakes for the three-day meeting next month have been advanced to a record total of §32,800. Besides trophies worth §4460 have been donated bv supporters of the club.

Racing has been held in! Marlborough since the late i 1850’s when Mr Henry Red-i wood arrived from Nelso . Mr Redwood established a'

I racing stable at Spring [Creek and travelled his ! horses far and wide, meeting [with marked success in New J Zealand and Australia.

Until 1886 several clubs operated. Amalgamation then took place and the Marlborough Racing Club was registered in 1886 with Mr Henry Redwood its first president.

The Redwood influence on the early history of the Marlborough Cup was marked.

Mr C. Redwood’s Rata won the cup in 1878 and 1879 and each time the successful rider was A. Redwood.

Then Henry Redwood’s Norseman won in 1880 — there is no record as to who rode the winner that year - but it might have been another all - Redwood triumph, as it was again in 1884 when C. Redwood’s Refrigerator, then a three-year-old, triumphed under the feather weight of 6.0 in the hands of W. Redwood.

Masthead (1889), Peri (1892), and Awarua Rose (1893) won Marlborough Cups in Henry Redwood’s colours not long before the race temporarily disappeared from the records. Several races at this year’s meeting will carry the names of past presidents of the club. The president with the longest term was E. A. Weld, who was at the head of affairs from 1921 to 1938. He was succeeded by Mr A.

C. Nathan (1939-44), and Mr A. F. Loe (1945-50). Mr A. F. Loe and Mr J. F. i Broughan are now patrons [ of the club. The active association of! members of the Loe familiy is being continued by Mr J. L. R. Loe, who became president in 1973, and retains that office. Mr Broughan was president from 1954 to 1961 and during his term made some vigorous contributions to debates in the interests of provincial clubs at conference [ level. Major improvements have been made to the club’s Waterlea course in the last 10 months. Much voluntary labour has helped to limit to $28,000 the cost of banking bends, easing corners, sloping starting chutes, installing a permanent irrigation system, and forming a banked dirt trotting track with a hub rail.