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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Racing and Sporting

Racing and Sporting.

The Auckland Racing Club was established in 1874 by the amalgamation of the Auckland Jockey Club and the Auckland Turf Club. It started with liabilities amounting to about £4000; at its first meeting £750 was given in stakes, and the following year £1735 was given for the two meetings. In 1900 and 1901 the added money was increased to £20,000, and the number of meetings to four, with a total of thirteen days. Since the club's inception £180,830 has been given in stakes, £18,500 spent in building, and £13,000 in general expenditure. The improvements consist of two grand-stands, which will accommodate 6000 spectators, stewards' room, refreshment stalls, bar, dining-room, with kitchen fitted up with gas and gas stoves; the members' dining-room being the best in the colony. The course is right-handed, and comprises about 130 acres of land which is vested in trustees. The stewards' stand consists of the stewards' room, press room, jockeys' room, weighing room, and jockeys' dressing room with trial scales. The saddling paddock contains thirty-eight boxes and a sand rolling-box. The number board, which is of the latest design, was imported from England; and a clock in the stand tower strikes the quarters to warn laggards to go to the post. A magnificent view of the steeplechase course can be obtained from the top of the grand-stand. The totalisator receipts for the 1899–1900 season amounted to £138,716, made up as follows:—Spring meeting, £25,462; summer meeting, £63,635; autumn meeting, £32,094; and winter meeting, £17,525.

Mr. William Percival, Secretary of the Auckland Racing Club, was born in November, 1841, at Wansford, England, and is the third son of Mr. Thomas Percival. He was educated at Fotheringay, and at Oundle, Northamptonshire. Mr. Percival was engaged in commercial pursuits in London for about five years, and in 1863 he arrived in Christchurch by the ship “Essex.” He settled in Canterbury until 1868, and then removed to the Thames goldfield, where he was engaged in clerical work, and acted as secretary of the racing carnival promoted in honour of the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh. When the Auckland Racing Club was formed Mr. Percival was appointed Permanent Secretary, and still holds the position. Mr. Percival acted as handicapper to the metropolitan club and country clubs for many years, and was presented with a handsome gold watch in recognition of his services. He took an active share in establishing the Pakuranga Hunt Club, and acted as Master for several seasons.

The Avondale Jockey Club. This club was formed at a public meeting held at the Avondale Hotel, on the 30th of August, 1889, and a three years' lease of the present course, which comprises fifty-two acres, was obtained from Mr. C. Burke. The first race was held on the 26th of April, 1890, and since then the club has become one of the most successful in the Auckland provincial district. The receipts from the totalisator have increased, since the opening of the course, from £1800 to over £11,000, and the value of the stakes competed for have risen from £225 to £1500 at each meeting. The club has now classic races on its programme; namely, the Avondale Stakes for two-year-olds, and the Avondale Guineas for three-year olds, and the nominations have exceeded sixty for each of these events. Sums exceeding £2000 have been expended in improvements since 1898; and the club now has a grand-stand, with accommodation for about 2000 spectators; weighing, jockeys', stewards' and press rooms, ladies' dining and refreshment rooms, and also a new totalisator room. The course is a mile in circumference, and is considered one of the fastest racing tracks in the provincial district. A ploughed track is also provided for training purposes. The course is held under a lease, with a purchasing clause, and the club intends to make still further improvements.

Mr. Harry H. Hayr, Honorary Secretary of the Avondale Jockey Club, was born in Auckland, on the 18th of June, 1859, and educated at the Auckland Grammar school. While a youth he entered the office of the New Zealand Steam Shipping Company. He held the position of purser for some years, and afterwards joined the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, trading between Sydney, New Zealand, and San Francisco. Some years later he commenced business in Auckland as agent for the Burlington Railway Company, United States of America, and many other commercial firms. Subsequently he purchased the printing business of Messrs Cecil Gardner and Co., now known as the Scott Printing Company. In 1890, Mr. Hayr started the “Sporting Review,” which he afterwards sold to an Auckland firm. Mr. Hayr works the totalisator machines for the Avondale Jockey Club, Auckland Racing Club, Coromandel Racing Club, Egmont Racing Club, and Rotorua Jockey Club. He has also owned a number of racehorses.

The Auckland Trotting Club was established in June of the season 1889–1890. Three meetings, embracing in all seven days, are held each season in Potter's Paddock, Epsom. The officers of the club are: Sir G. M. O'Rorke, M.H.R., president; Messrs F. page 251 Lawry, M.H.R., Hon. Major Harris, M.L.C., and A. R. Harris, J.P., vice-presidents; Messrs A. R. Harris, J.P., judge; F. W. Edwards, handicapper and starter; T. Brown, clerk of course; S. C. Caulton, clerk of scales; J. Rowe, treasurer; C. F. Mark, secretary; O. B. Waymouth, auditor.

The Pakuranga Hunt Club has been about thirty years in existence, and is the oldest hunt club in the colony. Its runs are held twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and there is an occasional stag hunt. The most varied country in the colony is to be found in the outskirts of Auckland, as ditches, wire, brush, post and rail fences, and more often stone walls from five to six feet high have to be negotiated. Messrs Every McLean, W. McLaughlin, W. Percival, and A. Buckland have taken great interest in the club, with which they have been associated since its infancy. The financial position of the club is good; it has a membership of 107, and the subscription is three guineas per annum. The meets are very popular, and are sometimes attended by as many as 200 horsemen and horsewomen, besides large numbers of persons in carriages. The club's colours are all green. A race meeting is held each season, in conjunction with the Auckland Racing Club, when the principal event is the Hunt Club Cup of seventy guineas. Other races are the Hunt Club Bracelet of fifty guineas, and the Hunt Club Hurdles of sixty guineas. The officers of the club for 1901 are: Mr. J. G. Ralph, master; Mr. A. Selby, huntsman; Mr. R. P. Kinloch, secretary; Mr. W. Carminer, treasurer.

Pakuranga Hunt Club, Otahuhu. Hanna, photo.

Pakuranga Hunt Club, Otahuhu. Hanna, photo.

Mr. John Guest Ralph, Master of the Pakuranga Hounds, and owner of the Sylvia Park estate, the home and grave of “Musket,” was born in Queen's County, Ireland, on the 1st of January, 1858. He is the only son of Mr. W. V. Ralph, Firmount, East Tamaki, who arrived by the ship “John Duncan,” in 1864. Mr. J. G. Ralph was educated at Robertson's Academy at the Thames, and commenced to learn practical metallurgy, under the late Mr. E. M. Corbett, manager of the celebrated Moanataiari mine, and remained with the company during the whole of the time the rich shoot of ore was being worked. Mr. Ralph then joined the Waitekauri Gold Mining Company on the opening of that field, under the late Mr. Robert Blizzard, who placed the plant and mine in Mr. Ralph's charge until it was closed down.
Mr. J. G. Ralph.Hanna, photo.

Mr. J. G. Ralph.Hanna, photo.

Mr. Ralph then embarked in the flax industry, and worked a mill in the Piako district for two years. He then secured a portion of the foreshore at the Thames, and proceeded to Melbourne, where he succeeded in floating the Askham-Molloy company to work the deposits or tailings that had been lost by the different plants or batteries at the Thames. This scheme proved highly remunerative for two years. Mr. Ralph was subsequently appointed manager of the Jubilee Gold Mining Company at Waitekauri, where he remained in charge for several months. He was one of the first to peg out a claim, which is now owned by the well-known Waitekauri Company. Mr. Ralph sold his interest to Mr. T. H. Russell, and then pegged out the Komati Reef, which he floated on the London market, and the reefs are still being worked with profitable results. Mr. Ralph then retired from active mining pursuits and purchased his present property, celebrated as the home of “Musket,” the sire of “Carbine” and other famous horses. Since acquiring Sylvia Park, Mr. Ralph has followed the footsteps of his predecessors, the old Auckland Stud Company, and has bred, and is still breeding, thoroughbred racehorses, including “Lady Avon,” a “St. Simon”—“Musket” cross. This mare won the blue ribbon at the avondale Jockey Club's meeting in 1899. Mr. Ralph identifies himself with hunting, and he has recently been chosen Master of the Pakuranga Hunt Club. He is one of the few in New Zealand who hold first-class mine managers' certificates.

Mr. Arthur Selby, Huntsman of the Pakuranga Hounds, Auckland, is one of the keenest of sportsmen. He was born at Greatness, Sevenoaks, Kent, England, in 1845, and is the second son of the late Mr. John Allen Selby, who owned a large farm at Greatness. Young Selby was educated at the Sevenoaks Grammar school, and after leaving that academy, he worked upon his father's farm, and afterwards managed it for six years. He then was offered the management of Blenkeron's celebrated racing establishment and stud farm at Eltham, but did not accept the position. Mr. Selby later on became manager of the Sevenoaks Depot, owned by Martin and Co., with whom he remained for eleven years, when he purchased the business, which he carried on for four years. After coming to New Zealand and settling at Wellington, Mr. Selby joined a Mr. Turnor, in the purchase of a block of land in the Forty-mile Bush, where he remained until 1893. He then removed to Auckland and finally settled at Otahuhu, where he has resided ever since. In 1894 he was appointed hunstsman of the Pakuranga Hunt Club, and still fills the office with satisfaction to all concerned. Mr. Selby has been a prize-giving member of the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and also a competitor in the hunters' class at its annual shows. He is clerk of the course to the Auckland and Avondale Jockey Clubs, and won the Avondale Hunt Club Steeples in 1898, with the assistance of “Rainbow,” bred by Mr. L. D. Nathan. Unfortunately this fine horse afterwards had his back broken in the hunting field. Mr. Selby is also a member of the Auckland and Otahuhu Cricket Clubs, and is an able exponent of the game. As a huntsman he gained his first experience with the pack of Squire Perkins, of Chipsted Place, and he was then only eight years of age. Since then page 252 he has kept up the open air traditions of a typical English gentleman farmer.

New Zealand Tattersall's Club. This club was established in 1882 for the convenience of persons interested in racing and sports of all kinds. The club rooms are situated at the corner of Queen and Swanson Strets. All matters in dispute over betting are referred to the club for settlement, and its decision is final. This affords a great protection for investors in racing matters, as each bookmaker is responsible to the club for his character and financial standing. The club's membership stands at over one hundred, and the assets, which are mostly in cash, are over £400. Officers: Mr. R. H. Duder, president; Mr. C. S. H. McKinney, secretary. There is a committee of seven gentlemen.

Mr. C. S. H. Mckinney is a son of the Rev. Robert McKinney, of Warkworth, one of New Zealand's earliest settlers. He has resided in Auckland for the past twenty years, during which he has been prominently identified with athletic and sporting matters. For over twelve years he was a hard-working member of the Auckland Cricket Association, and has iloted two teams through New Zealand. It was owing to his efforts that the fine pavilion in the Domain cricket ground was erected. In 1894 Mr. McKinney became secretary to the New Zealand Tattersall's Club.