THE CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB’S JUBILEE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 769, 1 December 1904, Page 6

THE CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB’S JUBILEE.

It is fifty years ago that racing was first started in Canterbury, and to commemorate the event an exceedingly interesting little brochure has been issued by the C.J.C. dealing with old-time racing records, and giving a brief history of the club. It was on the 16th of the present month, 1851, that the first races took place in Canterbury. 1 his was on the occasion of the celebration of the first anniversary of the settlement, the course being part of Hagley Fark. There were four races, the added money amounting to £l5, the Sweepstakes of £5 each, with £2 added, being the first event run, and this was won by Mr Gordon’s Brandy. Next year things were done in much better style, the course being considerably improved, and about six hundred people attended to see the Christchurch Cup. a sweep of £2, with £6 6s added, run for This was a hurdle race, and fell to Mr Leach’s Harkaway. The first movement towards the inauguration of a body to take charge of racing in Canterbury was made in 1854, and on the 2nd December of that year the Canterbury Jockey Club cime into existence —just fifty years ago to morrow. Mr J. Cracroft Wilson was the first president, Mr E. Jerningham Wakefield secretary, and Mr W. Guise Brittan the treasurer, while the original committee were Messrs J. T. Brown, John (now Sir John) Hall, Haslewood, and Captain Westenra. The first race meeting took place on March 6 and 7, when the added money amounted to £175. The principle < vent was the Canterbury Cup, of £5O, this falling to Mr Lees’ Tamerlane, a performance which the black gelding repeated two years later The race was run in two heats of two miles each, all. the four starters carrying 11st. Tamerlane won the first heat, and walked over for the second. The winner was beaten at even weights, however, on the second day of the meeting by Mr Turner’s Cruiskeen, and it is interesting to note that the owner presented the prize, the Ladies’ 1 urse of £4O, to the Club as a contribution towards the erection of a stand for the convenience of ladies. Horses required stamina in those early days of the Club, for all the events were run over considerable distances, and very often in heats at that, so it would appear there was no use for the weedy animals we see nowadays who are only able to scamper over five furlong courses, and are frequently not even able to stay as far as that

The first annual meeting of the club took place forty-nine years ago to-day, Mr I. T. Cookson being elected president and Mr T. Cass secretary. The first C.J.C Plate was offered in 1865, but resulted in a walk over for Mr Lawrence’s Canterbury Jack. Gradually the club grew in strength, and in 1859 a three days’ fixture was decided on. A year later, thanks to the efforts of Mr J. W. Mallock, the first Derby was run, this being carried off by Mr Harris’ St Aubyn filly Ada. Only five years later we find the inauguation of the Champion Race, and the strides made by the Club can be realised when it is stated that the added money was £lOOO- The rich stake was won by Mr Lance’s six-year-old chestnut mare Ladybird, who carried 9st 21b, and beat nine opponents. This meeting is memorable from the fact that Mr Lance’s horses made almost as clean a scoop of the prizes as did Mr Stead’s last me nth. Sicce the early days, the amount given in stakes has doubled every seven years, until last year they amounted to a total of £20,250. Altogether the rt cord of the Canterbury Jockey Club has been one of continuous I rogress, and everything points to much prosperity in the future for the old established institution.