OTAKI MAORI RACING CLUB

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 146, 21 June 1916, Page 14

OTAKI MAORI RACING CLUB

SOME EAKLY HISTORY.

(By "Sir Lancelot.")

Race meetings have been held in the Otaki district for over thirty years. The earliest fixtures were held on land down by the sea at Rangiuru owned by Mr. Bright, and managed by a mixed committee of Europeans and Natives. At these gatherings, The Shah, Goth >; Grand Duke, and other well-known performers took part. In connection with, these meetings, Mr. W. Tompsitt, who was present at' the recent meeting, assisted as handicapper and treasurer. The ■Otaki Maori Racing Club was formed in 1886, and the first meeting under the club's management was held, on 18th February, 1887. In those days the closing of nominations and acceptances and declaration of weights was made in the forenoon instead of night, as at present. The first secretary of the clnb was Mr. H. F. Eager, who filled the position for a number of years, and gave up the iturf to join .the Salvation Army. The late Mr. Eager died at Otaki a 'few years back. Mr. Hoani Taipua, M.H.R., the first president, and Mr. Enoka te Wano, who acted as judge at the initial meeting, .have also since passed away. Mr. Smith, a Chinese storekeeper in the district at the time, acted as clerk of scales. Mr. Hori te Waru, the club's first starter, acted in that capacity for about fifteen years. It was at Otaki that the saying "Are you ready, Charlie?" originated. The stewards who omciated at . the first meeting were MessTs. Herua Rofata, Hira wi Paraita,, Pitiera, Taipua, tiwilri Hape, Hori te Waru, Mohi Wharewhiti, Hohepa te Hn.ua, Hakaria te Whenu, Te Hiwi, Rei Parewhanaki, Epiha Ha-wea, Ropata Rauapiri, Rawiri Rota, Mihakft Karepa, Matin Hemara, Hokinga Karehana, Tame Kingi, Haimana "Raua.piri, Piripi te Ra, Tamo Timay Patera Inia, and Hapeta, te Rangi Katuka. Tame Kingi is the norn de course of Mr. Tom King, the well-known Otaki storekeeper, who acts as agent for the Evening Post. Some of the other gentlemen still assist the club in an. official capacity. The total amount of stakes at the first meeting was 65 sovb for eight events. The principal event was the Cup of 20 soys. Now the Cup is worth 500 soys.

Mohaka Karepa acted a-s handicapper for the first meeting, and Miller Booth and Co. as treasurer.

At the 1887 meeting Kate Tar won the Hurdles, Hamlet the Hack Hurdles, Waikawa the Maiden, Hard Times the Cup, Guitar the Hack R-ace, Touch and Go the District Race, Daring Tommy the Pony Race, and Wakapua the Forced Handicap. The tote did not play so important a part in those days as it does now, when everything else is a secondary consideration compared with the 10 per cent, machine. At the 1888 meeting the amount invested was only. £525. Hukatai, owned by a Maori, prevailed in the Cup and there was great rejoicing among the Natives.

In those days the committee were very careful about the way the stakes were raised. In 1887 they were £65, in 1888 £101, 1889 £106,1890 £135, 1891 .£156. At the commencement of operations the club paid Mr. Bright £3 per day for the use of the course, and in 1891 got a seven years' lease at £10 per day.- As the club grew in importance the rent went up.

The Native club was doing so well that the pakehas thought they would start a club and they did so about 1890. They raced on the same property at Rangiuru. A course was formed on the outside of the Native course and a grandstand erected^ The writer attended some of the meetings of the pakeba club, for which Mr. J. Eornbersley filled the position of secretary. There was some difficulty about the two clubs racing on the same course, and in 1895 the pakehas were not in existence.

The late' Mr. H. M. Lyon, for many years secretary of the Wellington Racing Club, was the friend and adviser of: the Maori Club. At the 1893 meeting a ball was held in his honour arid he was presented with a beautiful.carved Maori cup. Mr. Lyon had the cup-photo-graphed, and the, writer was among those that received a copy of. same.-- It was a splendia piece /of work-in two pieces, the top with, a mounted horsecarved in. relief. , . : ...'.■■'.■■

1 The first two-day, meeting was in 1892, the stakes amounting to £185 on the. first day and £235 on the .second. This meeting was 'the first; gathering at which the Otaki Maori.Brass Band took part in the. .proceedings, .In' former years the club used to import the. Garrison Band, from Wellington. \ /v,'' The principal events in those days were named alter the Governors or members of ■ their families. As far back as 1890, the Cranley Stakes and Onslow Handicap*" found a place ' on- the .programme. Thero was ■ great competition in these events among: the different Native owners along, the Coast. Roger, Sweet Dream, and Slave. Girl each won a, double. The' latter was owned by the well-known Porirua owner who then raced as R. Puaha.

At the 1892' Meeting, Mr. Fred. Death, now a member of the staff of the Public Trust Office, filled the role of handicapper. The weather for the, first, twoday meeting was wet. Native owners were to the fore, Huia. winning the Cranley Stakes and vSlave Girl, the Onslow. Handicap. Roger, a double winner at the 1890 Meeting, wa-s owned and "ridden by Jack Jones, father, of G. Jones, rider of Immensity at the recent meeting.-, Besides Mr. Puaha, air. Arapene, Wi Hutaoa, Wiremu Hunia, and Utiku Marumaru were other prominent Native owners among the club's patrons. The latter won a double with Songster. Slave Girl, Huia, and Mataiwhetu were other horses owned by Natives ■ that were successful on more than one occasion. -The latter wa3 a hurdle racer owned by Mr. Puaha, and was ridden by J. H. Prosser. Later in the 9ffs the Boyle Plate and Glasgow Plate found a place on the programme. Mr. J. E. Henrys succeeded Mr. Death as handicapper, and Mr. Hema te Ao was appointed in Mr. Eager's place ac secretary. The late Mr. Ropata te Ao was then patron of the club, Mr. A. Small and Mr. J. Cootes vice-presidents, and Mr. Teone Maldtonore a member of the stewards. The latter was Mr. J. R. MTDonald.

' There was great disappointment among the Natives at. the representative of Government House not'being able to attend the meeting when invited, both to the old and new course.

The club started to acquire the new course, where it now races,,in. 1905. The first meeting was held in October, 1910. The first race was won by Gipsy Belle, ridden by C. Jenkins. That horseman's father rode at the meetings down by the sea until he was well on in years.

At the new course the club has gone to considerable expense erecting new buildings. In this connection the writer may be excused for mentioning the fact that the club's first "grandstand" at the old course was a builHinp: 40 by 20. Since the last meeting the club has spent some £1500 in improvements. The stakes at the recent meeting amounted to 2230 soys.

Tlie present officials of the club are as follow :.—Patron, Sir James Carroll; president, B. Line: vice-presidents, W. H. T?ield, M.P.. Weliipeihana Tabarape, A. te Hiwi Roi I'arewhanakfi, • Jvarepa Kapukai; steward a/ Hori H ,W«w, 3s a■ reibi Roara, P. H, Taipna, Eers Kiki-.

tini, Hone Makimereni, Hema R. Te Ao, Ruihi Wehipeihana, Epiha Hawea, Winbana Rei, Haimona Eanapiri, and Wiremu Kiriona; judge, W. H. Hartgill; Starter, R. H. Sldpwith; handicapper, H. Coyla; clerk of scales, Hone Makimereni; timekeeper, Rere Nikitini; clerk of course, Manuriki te Hiwi; hon. surgeons, Hon. Dr. Pomare and Dr. te Rangihiroa; secretary, 0. J. D'Ath.