EARLY RACING In his book on early Horowhenua. Rod McDonald has recorded that a meeting was held near Otaki in 1854 at which his father, Hector McDonald, held the combined positions of steward, starter and judge. The race course was at that time at Katihku on the south bank of the Otaki River and events were run on a straight course, the riders doubling around a post and finishing at the starting point. When McDonald attended his first meeting at Otaki in the early 70's the starting post was outside the old Telegraph Hotel. The horses ran a gruelling race down the unmetalled Beach Road, round a post at Dodd's Corner, and back to the Hotel again. Although most of the horses competing at local meetings were Maori hacks, some of the best blood imported into New Zealand was to be found on this coast and there were among those hacks some excellent gallopers. Rod McDonald was himself the owner of many thoroughbreds. One of these, Volcano, by Southern Chief out of a Don Juan mare, won numerous races at Otaki during the 1880's, and after he was sold accounted for most of the big steeplechases in Auckland and Taranaki. Another horse which he raced at Otaki and which afterwards claimed bigger stakes was Uranus, by Blair Athol from a Kakapo mare. Shortly after being sold this horse won the steeplechase and two hurdle race at one Auckland meeting. Manuriki Tehiwi, clerk of the course in 1900. (Turnbull Library Photograph) Receiving the bets. On the table, far left, is one of the issuing machines on which all bets are entered. All bets are at once relayed technically to the totemobile