Early Racing Days

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 274, 15 August 1936, Page 21

Early Racing Days

Grand National week brings to mind New Zealand's first organised horse race, which took iflace in Wellington ou January 25, 1841, as part of the settlement’s "first anniversary celebrations. It .was a hurdle race by four horses, heijl on some ground behind the Te Aro Pa (Taranaki Street). Mr. Henry Petre won the prize of fifteen guineas on Cfllmuck Tartar. Ou October 20, 1842, however, there was held a race meeting in all its glory. The course was the hard, sandy beacli from the mouth of the Hutt to Pito-one Pa—about one mile and three-quarters. A general holiday was declared. The day was One of Wellington's best—brilliant sunshine, with a light southerly breeze. Carts, wagons, bullock-drays, and Wellington’s lone gig streamed out along the Hutt Road, with bi'ave music from the band-wagon. Boats of all kinds came across the harbour. The little inn at Aglionby swarmed with grooms and horses. Refreshment booths and a grandstand of planks and water-butts were put up. Jerningham Wakefield, clerk of the course, splendid in the only pink coat in the colony, had an anxious time persuading natives not to sunbathe in the middle of the track, begging some whalers to remove their boat, and silencing the band when the horses came up the straight. More than five hundred people were present, and a most successful day ended with a grand .dinner at that historic meetingplace, Barrett’s Hotel.— D.W. (Christchurch) ,