WAIMATE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18830, 19 March 1931, Page 13

WAIMATE.

JUBILEE OP RACING CLUB. To-day the minds of old-timers will hark back over the period of SO years which has elapsed since the foundation of the Waimate Racing Club. Many past performances of a bygone period will come up for discussion, and owners of the past who had representatives competing in the early days of the Club, and from 20 to 50 ago, are sure to be the subject of a revival of pleasant memories amongst those who have retained interest in the Waimate Meeting. Those owners who raced horses at the meetings during the 80’s include the names of Mr Pelham Jones, with Corifee and Mont Eagle; Mr John Dooley with Milo, Miss George, and Quickstep; Mr M. Sherwin with Quibble, Mokarakara, Lisbon, Nailor, Dragon, and Miss Lucy; Mr Alex. Potter with Theodore; Mr Steve Hoskins with John Halifax; Mr S. Binney with May Morn; Mr McMaughan with Flatcatcher; Mr E. George with Maurie and Van Toom; Mr E. C. Studholme with Knottingly, and Mr R. Simpson. All these were local owners, whose names, in addition to those of other sportsmen of the time, in Messrs F. Slee and J. B. Fox and many others, will be revived.

At a later period, about the beginning of the present century, two owners with fairly large stables, were Messrs T. Twomey and A. S. Jones, the former racing Jack, Little Shamrock, Slaney, Umeraboy, Carlo, Stone Ginger, Belgium King, and others; and Mr Jones's team comprising amongst others Ayesha, Stepmaid, and Orysobel. From earliest dates prominent supporters from districts near at hand were Messrs O. R. Wise, J. Sewell, and E. Evans (Oamaru), whilst at various periods the Club’s list of patrons included such weil-known owners as Sir George Clifford, Hon. G. McLean, Messrs H. Friedlander, E. Gates, J. B. Reid, H. A. Knight, St. John Buckley, Munro Bros., G. Gould, P. Campbell, H. Gardner, F. Slee, J. B. Fox, D. Mahoney, T. Daley, S. and R. Alexander, J. McCoomb, W. Crossan, and M, Hobbs and C. Hobbs, T. Sheenan, Dan O’Breen, H. Goodman, R. Mason, R. Vallance, P. Buller, H. Limn and McKay Bros., who to mention only a few of the names from memory, of those pioneer sports "Wanted no harping or singing.”

"They wished to be where the sound Of the hoofs of the horses were ringing.”

For the first Race Meeting held under the auspices of the Waimate Racing Club, Mr M. Studholme acted in the capacity of handicapper and judge, the late Mr M. McGoverin was starter, and the late Mr Geo. Freeman (father of the present clerk of the course) was clerk of the course. The Committee and stewards were—Messrs A. Turnbull, G. Lovegrove, Pelham Jones, Major W. J. Steward, R. McOwen, A. Hayes, H. Middleton, J. Molloy, J. Jacobs, G. R. Freeman, M. McGoverin A. Potter, and J. Dooley. For the first meeting on January Ist, 1881, the following was the programme: Hurdle Race, £3O, 2 miles; Hack Hurdle Race, £ls, H miles; Waimate Handicap £SO, 2 miles; County Purse, £25, 1 mile; Publican’s Handicap, £4O, It miles; Hack Selling Race, £ls, half mile heats; Consolation Handicap, £ls, once round the course. Total stakes, £l9O for the day, was considerably less than the Club now gives for its principal race, the Waimate Cup. The meeting was held in a paddock on the Waimate estate. In fact, prior to the A ---

year 1883, all the race meetings and steeplechase meetings were held in various parts of the Waimate estate, and there is no doubt that the support given to the Club by the first president, Mr Michael Studholme, and in after years by his sons, Messrs Cuthbert Studholme, Edgar Studholme, Carlisle Studholme, and Paul Studholme, assisted very considerably in the successful progress of the Club. Each of the above-named members of the Studholme family has held the position of president of the Club, besides giving their assistance in honorary other capacities such as judge, clerk of the course, etc. In the year 1881, Major W. J. Steward, M.P. (afterwards Sir W. J. Steward) brought a Bill before the House of Representatives, securing a Crown grant of the land contained in the present racecourse. This land was vested in a board of trustees, and the following gentlemen were appointed the first trustees: —Messrs Michael Studholme, Major W. J. Steward, M. McGoverin, John Dooley, Pelham Jones and A. Turnbull.

The first race meeting held on the new racecourse, so far as can be gathered from the records, appears to have been held in 1883, and from then on the Club progressed with varying success. In 1904 the first grandstand was built on the course; but with the increasing popularity of the meeting it was found necessary in the year 1910 to shift the stand to a different position, and at the same time considerably enlarge it, and form the very fine sloping lawn in front of the stand. With the various alterations, additions and improvements to buildings and tracks that have been made during the succeeding years, the facilities for trainers and the public compare more than favourably with any other oneday meeting Club in the South Island.

During the fifty years of its existence the Club has at different periods had some of the most notable trainers and horses competing at its meetings.

Among the horses which have raced at Waimate may be mentioned Banjo, Tommy Dodd, Agent, Clarence, Canard, Quibble, Liberator, Lady Zetland, Martian, and many notable gallopeis and jumpers, while in later years we have had some of the best trotters and pacers, among them being Vilo, Tatsy Dillon, and recently Roi l’Or. This year we may add to the records of horses trained on our tracks the Dunedin Cup, recently won by Mr A. L. Aubrey’s good little horse Mount Boa. A record like this speaks well for the Club, and it is to be hoped that the present president, and his officers and Committee, will be favoured with a successful jubilee meeting.

Amongst trotting men, since these items have been included in the programme, adherents of the sport will remember best the names of Messrs J. Dench, and H. Saunders, who owned respectively Tatsy Dillon and Vilo. Mr J. B. Fox with Rothbloom, Centre wood,

non -Roy, has in recent years kept the memory of the Club green, but previously Messrs F. and A. Slee,

iwj.r a. omun, and Mr D. Kennedy supplied turf supporters with competitors such as School Girl, Dalwhinnie, Doris Wilkes, Imperial Princess, and others noted for brilliancy. To-day’s track interest in trotting is always maintained by the presence of the Waimate champion Roi 1’ Or, and the doings and achievements of the New Zealand champion pacer Harold Logan are always watched with interest by those who saw him win his first race at Waimate.

WOMEN'S INSTITUTE. A pleasant afternoon was spent recently by the btudholme Women’s Institute, in the Nukaroa Hall, Mrs Kippenberger presiding. After a resolution of sympathy, which was voiced by the president, and responded to in the usual way to the bereaved and sufferers through the Hawke's Bay calamity, the Institute voted £3 to the relief fund. Business was then proceeded with: Roll call, uses of vinegar, useful suggestions, favourite stitching, and other interesting subjects. Afternoon tea and a social half hour finished an enjoyable afternoon. This is a seller —Seven acres fre*--hold, near to town, heavy land, sound 3-roomed house; electric power; good cowbails and pigstyes and accommodation for 1000 fowls. Price £7OO. Cash required £250. FORBES WALLACE. Auctioneer. Box 47, Waimate. We beg to notify having commenced business in Queen Street, in conjunction with Mr A. E. Lewis, Plumber All branches of electrical work at lowest rates. Workmanship guaranteed. Prompt attention. RUSSELL AND KANE.

(Late of Turnbull and Jones) Yhone 153. Waimate.