Know your town
Race day 1900 style
Boxing Day and the weather was fine for the first day’s racing at the Lower Valley Jockey Club’s two day meet at the Race Course – now the Golf Club.
Land for the Course was purchased from the J Martin Estate for six pounds (2014= $1,110) per acre in 1893. The grandstand, measuring 13 metres by 5 metres, was built by R A Wakelin in 1894. His tender price was one hundred and four pounds nine shillings and seven pence ( 2014 = $18,635). Fencing added another thirty one pounds eleven shillings and two pence.
Earliest records of the Lower Valley Jockey club are of 1887 – well before the Wairarapa Club. Old maps show a number of courses and grandstands, one at Backwater Road.
The first race meeting in the country was believed to be that held at Mr C R Bidwill’s property between the Ruamahunga river and The Backwater. Mr Bidwill owned a horse named ‘Figaro’ which was the first thoroughbred bought into New Zealand.
In 1910 the Lower Valley Club lost out on a relocation of its licence and the club was subsequently disbanded. Some of the names associated with the club included: T F Evans who was the secretary, H McKay the Treasurer, E G Harris the Starter ,J W Card , A G Pilmer, J Martin, J J Jackson, and A Sutherland.
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