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.
