Waipapakauri Racing Club

Northland Age, Volume 1, Issue 10, 11 December 1931, Page 5

Waipapakauri Racing Club

The meeting called for next Monday night of members and supporters of the Waipapakauri Racing Club will more than likely decide whether this old-established Racing Club is to carry on or be wound up. Though the actual position is that the Club is in a better position, financially and otherwise, than any other racing club in the North, with a course described by the custodian of Elierslie as finer than his own, with suitable buildings and every facility for the sport, the whole burden is at present being carried by a few enthusiastic members. With the help that may be reasonably expected from the members at large and the general public there is no reason why the < -tub should not be as prosperous in the future as it has been in the past. In the hope and expectation that the help will be given, a totalisator meeting has been arranged in January with a programme that should attract good fields. Should it not be given it will mean the end of the' sport in the Far North for some time at least. The - Club was founded some 45 years ago by Mr. Joseph Evans, who gave Hie use of the land for the racecourse free, and was its first president, remaining in that office for some twenty years. The race meeting and the Kaitaia Show were then the two great local event?, and there was always a large gathering from all over the district, who enjoyed the day’s sport, made modest bets when bookmaking was legal, “welshing” was unknown, and the Club gave good prize money and yet made a modest profit, which was spent on improvements. Four years ago the Club applied for a totalisator permit, which was granted after considerable competition from other clubs and a thorough inspection of the club’s racing appointments. Like other racing clubs it is handicapped by heavy taxation, but by the concessions the Government now offers there is a fair prospect of the Club being able to carry on successfully. That however now depends on the members and the public generally..