JUBILEE RACING YEAR

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6885, 15 April 1929, Page 3

JUBILEE RACING YEAR

Feilding Jockey Club The Feilding Jockey Club has entered upon its jubilee year and tho two racing fixtures to bo decided within tho period—the spring meeting in November and the Easter meeting 1930—will be marked by the addition of two 100 guinea cups to the prize money for the principal races of each "meeting. It was announced on Saturday that the committee of tho clnb had decided to donate a 100 guinea gold cup to go with the stake for the big race at the November meeting this year and that Mr. R. L. Levin had donated a 100 guinea cup for the Feilding cup event to be decided at the Easter meeting next year. The club’s donation and that of Mr. Levin once more demonstrates the popularity of the Feilding meeting and the announcements will be welcomed in sporting circles throughout the Dominion and should assist the success of the two jubilee fixtures. The Feilding Jockey Club commenced its career on Easter Monday, 1879, when it conducted its first meeting on the picturesque grounds known as Lethbridge run. This property, which is now a portion of the residential section of Feilding, was bounded on the east by West street and the entrance was at tho junction of Geisei’s road and Awahuri road. The hills on the back of the course were utilised as a natural grandstand and in those days even as at the last Easter meeting, the accommodation was taxed to its utmost. The club continued to race on Lethbridge run until 1890, when the freehold of the present excellent property w r us aquired and a track meeting was held on the day after Boxing Day in that year. Two years later, the club decided to hold a two days meeting in November in addition to the Easter fixture, and has held to those dates ever since. The property was originally owned by Mr. James Whisker, who sold it to a Mr. Turner, an Australian. It was then cut up and the club purchased 100 acres, which have since been added to. Within recent years the property has been considerably improved and its appointments today are very little short of those of the clubs of the big centres. The Feilding club was one of the first to introduce the electric totalisator. Tho first president of tho club was Mr. D. H. MacArthur, who was followed by Messrs Lethbridge, W. L. Bailey, W. A. Bailey, C. A. J. Levctt, W. G. Haybittle, B. N. Sandilands and the present office bearer, Mr. A. E. Sandford. The first secretary was Mr. Wilfred Jackson, who was followed by Messrs N. A. Fitzherbert, W. E. Sandilands, Edmund Goodbehere and Mr. Guy Goodbehere, who holds- the office to-day. Of the stewards who held office in 1885, Mr. E. Goodbehere is tho sole survivor and of the members of that date, tho survivors are Messrs E.' Goodbehere, Hugh Burrell and J. E. Henrys, the well-known handicapper. The first totalisator run by the club was conducted by the late Mr. S. Abraham, of Palmerston North. In 1886, the total investments on the totalisator for a one day meeting at Easter w-eck were £1455, while the investments for the -two day meeting in 1921 totalled £96,659. In 1886 the club’s receipts totalled £1149 and the expenditure was £I6OO. In 1921, the receipts totalled £33,000 and the expenditure £26,000. Tho Feilding Jockey Club has the distinction of having brought to light two of the best known racing officials in New Zealand, namely, Mr. J. E. Henrys, who became handicapper in 1886, and the late Mr. Hartgill, who was appointed judge in 1593 and continued in the office until his death. Mr Henrys is still handicapper for the club -while Mr. J. Cameron of Palmerston North, is judge. While the club’s activities arc primarily concerned with horse racing, it has always given a helping hand to other sporting institutions in the town. Its beautiful grounds have been at tho disposal of the Feilding A. and P. Association, the Feilding Football Club, The Feilding Motor Club, The Feilding Polo Club and the New Zealand Polo Association as well as for hockey and cricket enthusiasts and in this respect it has been of immense benefit to the prosperity and development of the town.