This is the twelfth in a major series of articles concerning racetracks of the world starting with those in New Zealand.
NORTH OTAGO –
The large east-coast town of Oamaru serves as North Otago’s main centre other towns and settlements in the region include Alma, Maheno, Kakanui, Herbert (also known as Otepopo), Waianakarua, Hampden, and Moeraki, all close to the coast south of Oamaru. The coastal plain north of Oamaru has the settlements of Hilderthorpe and Pukeuri and the district covers the area of Otago between Shag Point and the Waitaki River extending inland to the west as far as the village of Omarama.
Oamaru –
The first trotting meeting in Oamaru was held in the late 1880’s in Lewis’s paddock, North Road, later the home of the Oamaru Woollen Mills. The North Otago TC also held a meeting at Lewis’s paddock on 8 December 1892. The Oamaru Trotting Club was not formed until 1908, however trotting races were held at thoroughbred meetings including the original Oamaru JC (formed 1867, new club formed in January 1875, North Otago Turf Club) in 1880’s, Oamaru Tradesmen’s RC (26 October 1890 – 26 December 1893), North Otago JC (9 April 1891, first ever meeting after being formed at a public meeting on 20 December 1890).
The Oamaru Trotting Club formed on 25 May 1908 (registration certificate granted on 2 December 1908 by NZ Trotting Conference) beginning with official non-tote meetings starting with a seven race card on 10 June 1909 and another held on 2 December 1909 at the original Oamaru trotting racecourse. Their inaugural totalisator meeting took place in 1911. The club acquired the lease of a paddock opposite the present racecourse next to the railway line. In 1917 the club was sufficiently financial to purchase this property where they remained and raced for the next thirteen years.
The Oamaru JC were trustees of the course, a reserve set aside for racing under the Oamaru Racecourse Reserve Management Ordinance 1870. In 1925 the two clubs (Racing and Trotting) agreed to work together to make the course adaptable for both their activities. By the 1929/30 season after considerable fund raising, the trotting club was ready to move across the road to the new Oamaru trotting course consisting of a six furlong track constructed inside the galloping course, with both sharing the home straight and winning post. The new course was first used in May 1930. Three tracks were maintained inside the racing tracks for fast work, jogging and wet weather conditions. An all-weather 1200m crusher dust track was first used at the 7 February 1981 meeting (1800m grass track used annually for grass track Cup meeting).
The club’s feature event is the time honoured Hannon Memorial (since 1938, superseding the Weston Handicap 1913 – 1937), a race winners list notable for NZ Cup winners – Hannon winners including Integrity, Johnny Globe (twice), Lookaway, Bonnies Chance, Inky Lord, Blossom Lady (twice), Bee Bee Cee, Iraklis (twice), Kyms Girl, Monkey King.
Fashions in the Field – Oamaru 2020
Trotting races were included in race programmes by the Oamaru JC (18 October 1924 – 18 June 1954) and when they raced at Wingatui (17 December 1927; 22/24 March 1928). The Waitaki TC raced at Oamaru on 14 October 1964 while the South Canterbury and North Otago OTB held a trials meeting (with non-totes) on Anzac Day 25 April 1974.
The Oamaru club also hosts meetings on behalf of Kurow, Waikouaiti and Waimate Trotting Clubs.
Kurow –
The Kurow JC (formed 24 June 1887) racing on the Kurow racecourse provided for a trotting race on its race card of 2 October 1890. Further trotting races were included in Kurow RC meetings held at Oamaru racecourse on 4 October 1917, 2 October 1919, 7 October 1920, 1 October 1932, 30 September 1933, 2 December 1939, 13 April 1946 – 4 January 1965.
The Kurow TC (HRC since 2004/5 season) was formed on 8 July 1954 with annual non-tote meetings being held from 22 January 1955 until 4 April 1964 on the Kurow racecourse (except 30 April 1963, 4 April 1964 at Oamaru as extensive track alterations were underway at Kurow).
The club held its first totalisator meeting at Kurow on 29 May 1965; in 1966 meetings moved to an early August date at Oamaru racecourse (grass until 1980, all-weather since February 1981), for many years the first trotting meeting of the new season in New Zealand and/or the South Island.
Other tracks utilised in the North Otago area in earlier years that included trotting races on their programmes :
- Mr A McKerrow’s paddock – Hampden, 21m south of Oamaru, 57m north of Dunedin, meeting of 31 December 1891
- NZ & AL Company paddock – Hampden ((near Waianakarua Station), meeting of 29 December 1892
- Duntroon (between Oamaru/Kurow) – Duntroon JC (30 April 1891 – 19 April 1894)
- Cochrane’s paddock, Palmerston racecourse – Palmerston RC (Shag Valley 1890 -1892), meetings 9 October 1890 – 1 January 1910
CENTRAL OTAGO –
Central Otago, located in the inland part of the Otago region in the South Island of New Zealand. The area is dominated by mountain ranges and the upper reaches of the Clutha River and tributaries. The Central Otago wine region is the world’s southern-most commercial wine growing region.
During the 1860’s race meetings held at Queenstown, Alexandra, Dunstan, Cromwell, Tuapeka County and Mount Ida (Naseby) catered for trotters.
Cromwell –
The first Cromwell meeting in 1862 was held in conjunction with athletic sports meetings on a property then known as Round Hill racecourse, later gazetted as a reserve for racing by the Otago Provincial Council. The first recorded meeting at Cromwell was on 19 August 1869 with the inaugural meetings of the newly formed Cromwell JC held on 30/31 December 1869 (extended to three days 29 – 31 December in 1870). The Cromwell Racecourse (left handed 1625m grass track with 350m straight) is located close to the Cromwell junction (Queenstown side) of the Wanaka- Queenstown Highway, just 2km from the Cromwell town centre. The course being operated and run by the Otago Racing Club.
The Cromwell Trotting Club formed in 1887 holding its inaugural meeting on the Cromwell track on 24 May 1888 (Queens Birthday) with further meetings held on 24 May 1889 and Friday 10 October 1890 (four trotting and four galloping races) with further 50/50 meetings under the auspices of the Cromwell Tradesman Racing Club held on 9 October 1891 through until 11 October 1895. The Kawarau (Otago) Trotting Club held a non-tote meeting in the Cromwell/Queenstown area on 25 May 1891. The Cromwell Racing Club hosted trotting races on their programmes from 28 December 1891 until 6 March 1967.
After a long and tumultuous history, the Cromwell Jockey Club closed in the 1980s but the Central Lakes Equestrian Club, who co-ordinate activities at the picturesque course, together with the Otago Racing Club have built the profile of racing in the area up again. They hold two thoroughbred meetings each year and since 7 January 2008 the Wyndham HRC’s grass track meeting early in January each year features the Cromwell Cup on the Cromwell racecourse.
Roxburgh –
The Roxburgh JC (formed January 1881) held trotting races on the Roxburgh course from 1 January 1891 until 1 January 1896. The Roxburgh TC was formed on 22 April 1932 with its first non-tote meeting consisting of six races held on 1 April 1933, continuing annually until 1939 when the club went into recess due to the outbreak of WWII. Non-tote meetings recommenced in 1946 and continued until the meeting of 1 April 1950.
The Roxburgh TC held its first totalisator meeting on the Gore raceway on Saturday 15 April 1950. Racing returned to the club’s Roxburgh racecourse for the meeting of 24 March 1951 where racing has remained ever since. The inaugural Roxburgh Cup for pacers was won by Bulls Eye, a trotter owned by leviathan Dunedin owner George Barton. Grass track winners at Roxburgh in earlier times included Blue Prince (1960), Cardigan Bay (1961), both Roxburgh Cup winners, Massacre and Robin Dundee.
A five furlong (1000m) left handed all-weather crusher dust track (originally clay)has been utilised annually from 15 April 1968 (current meetings are held early January) on the freehold circuit located at Roxburgh East Flat, four kilometres from the township.
The Tuapeka Trotting Club held their first annual non-tote meeting at Roxburgh on 18 November 1961 (then raced at Forbury Park).
Omakau –
The Omakau Racecourse is used twice annually on consecutive days in January, first by the Central Otago Trotting Club and then by the Central Otago Racing Club. The Omakau Racecourse located on Racecourse Road, Matakanui off State Highway 85 and is set in a picturesque setting surrounded by trees. The left handed course incorporates a 1200m all-weather track (harness) and a 1600m grass track with a 300 metre straight for thoroughbreds.
The original Central Otago club used the Matakanui racecourse for annual meetings between 22 April 1904 and 15 March 1907. The Central Otago Trotting Club formed in 1952 used a clay track formed inside the grass track for their non-tote matinees (15 April 1952 – 31 March 1964) with their inaugural totalisator meeting being held on 20 April 1965.
Earlier trotting races had been held at the Vincent JC’s meetings at Omakau (10 January 1936 – 16 January 1967; 6 April 1940 meeting held at Wingatui). Earlier the Vincent JC held a meeting on 1 January 1891 at the Matakanui Park Reserve, situated on the northern plain of the Manuherilia Plain, Vincent County, 13 kms from Dunedin.
An all-weather track was first utilised at the club’s 2 January 1987 meeting. Others to use the Omakau track have included the Central Otago Trotting Owners Association non-tote trials (5 January 1985 – 4 April 1992) and the Central Otago Racing Club included three pacing events on their 5 January 1999 meeting programme.
Other tracks utilised in the Central Otago area in earlier years that included trotting races on their programmes :
- Alexandra – Alexandra (Otago RC) held meetings at courses variously referred to as either “old” or new Dunstan course between 26 December 1891 and 18 December 1903; Central Otago RC used “old” Dunstan course on 23 December 1891; Otago Central TC used ”old” Dunstan course between 10 January 1920 and 1 January 1924
- Manuherikia Domain, Alexandra – Alexandra (Otago RC) meetings between 16 December 1904 – 16 December 1910
- Dunstan racecourse – Alexandra Trotting Club, first held New Years Day 1963 (8 April 1967 Forbury Park), 2 January 1978 and annually on New Years Day or day thereafter until New Years Day 1992 (equalisator meetings with penalty bearing non-tote fixtures)
- Beaumont – Beaumont JC meetings, formed 31 December 1886 (30 March 1891 – 4 December 1954 including combined meeting with Tuapeka JC, 15 and 17 April 1933), also raced at Wingatui (8 December 1951) and Ascot Park (4 November 1952)
- Ettrick Domain Grounds – Ettrick JC, Ettrick, 30m north west Lawrence, 90m Dunedin (17 March 1891 – 17 March 1896). Galloping meetings held in 1885, 1887, 1892 and 1894
- Ida Valley – Ida Valley JC, Ida Valley, near Omakau (30 December 1892 – 29 December 1894)
- Arrow racecourse – Lake County JC, Frankton, Queenstown (meetings 7 November 1891 – 18 March 1921). Thoroughbred meetings held in Queenstown as early as 14 – 16 January 1864 (Frankston Flat); name changed to Lake County JC in 1875. The final thoroughbred meeting at Frankston consisted of four flat races and three trotting events
- Lowburn – Lowburn Sporting Club, Lowburn, Cromwell District, meeting of 16 October 1891. First recorded thoroughbred meeting held on 27 December 1869
- Sowburn (now known as Patearoa, Maniototo Plains, Naseby) – Maniototo JC (10 November 1890; 6 February 1896 – 2 December 1911); Maniototo RC (17 November 1891 – 2 February 1892). First recorded meeting of thoroughbreds was in 1878 although a combined sports meeting was held in December 1870
- St Bathans – St Bathans RC (26 December 1890 – 30 December 1895). St Bathans JC formed in 1869 held its last totalisator meeting on 30 December 1896, with annual gymkhana gatherings in later years
- Lawrence Domain – Tuapeka County JC, meeting 21 January 1891. Thoroughbred racing recorded at Coal Point Flat on 1 – 2 May 1868, later at Lawrence Domain
- Happy Valley racecourse – Tuapeka County JC, Weatherstones (9 February 1905 – 7 February 1906)
- Waitahuna Gully – Waitahuna JC, 7m from Lawrence, meeting of 25 January 1892. A thoroughbred meeting was held at Waitahuna on New Year’s Day 1879
- Wanaka – Wanaka JC (1 January 1891 – 28 October 1892) After going into liquidation after its 1884 meeting, the Wanaka JC reformed in September 1885 holding its first meeting on 15 – 16 January 1886
Peter Craig
31 March 2021
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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