EARLY RACING IN DUNEDIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22137, 15 December 1933, Page 15

EARLY RACING IN DUNEDIN

It will no doubt come ag a surprise to many to learn that race meetings were held in the vicinity of Dunedin 83 years ago, but an issue of the Otago News, dated March 23, 1850, contains an advertisement relating to a meeting' “to take place on the rising ground near the late residence of Mr John Cargill, the Halfway Bush, on Monday, 25th .March.” The programme consisted of three events, ns follows:—A Hurdle Race, with a prize of £lO and entrance money added, and for which three horses Were nominated; (Van Tromp, Violet, and-Traveller), the race to be run in heats, twice round the course over hurdles 3ft 6in; a Hack Race, with a prize of £8 and entrance money added, to be run in heats twice round the course, the entries being Comet, Violet, Black Bess, Van Tromp, and two horses named Traveller; and the Beaten Stakes, with . a prize of £5, to he run in heats twice round the course. The advertisement, which is signed by G. L, Fleury, as secretary, has the following interesting footnote:—-“ It is respectfully requested that those gentlemen who have not paid their subscription will take the earliest opportunity of giving the same to the secretary, to prevent any unnecessary inconvenience,” The copy of the Otago News from which we have been privileged to make the extracts is in the possession of Mrs G. M. Basire, Dunedin.