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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Racing And Sporting

Racing And Sporting.

The Dunedin Jockey Club , The first jockey club in Dunedin—the Otago Jockey Club was formed in 1860, and seven or eight years later it merged in the present club. Several sets of rules were drawn up by the late Mr. Sydney James, who held office in both clubs for so many years; but latterly the rules adopted by the whole of the metropolitan clubs have been in force. At first races were held at Silverstream; but in 1871 the club moved to Forbury racecourse, and used it for the various meetings. Finding the expenses of conducting racing at Forbury so heavy, the Dunedin Jockey Club purchased 150 acres of land at Wingatui, on the main south line of railway, about eight miles south of Dunedin, and there has a racecourse. The amount of stakes to be run for, season by season, has varied, but of late years the stakes have averaged from £7,000 to £10,000. The Dunedin Jockey Club has about thirty clubs under its jurisdiction.

Mr. John Charles Short , who is a Steward of the Dunedin Jockey Club, was born in 1854 in Melbourne, educated at the South Melbourne Grammar School, and brought up to the saddlery trade. After completing his term of apprenticeship he came to Dunedin in 1874. Mr. Short had charge of Mr. C. Moore's factory in Dunedin for thirteen years, but resigned in 1887 to commence business as proprietor of the Glasgow Hotel, bettor known as “The Shades.” After conducting this house for ten years, he took the Terminus Hotel, and subsequently retired from the business. Mr. Short's father, an old Victorian who arrived in that Colony in 1841, was many years a hotel-keeper in Melbourne, and the subject of this sketch had considerable experience with horses, of which he took full advantage, Mr. Short is a steward of the Tahuna Park Trotting Club, and belongs to the Licensed Victuallers' Association, of which he is president. As a Freemason he is a Mark Master, and is attached to Lodge Otago, No. 844, E.C.; he is also an unattached Oddfellow. He is considerably interested in gold-dredging, and is a director of a number of successful dredging companies.

Mr. Harry Logie James , Secretary to the Dunedin Jockey Club, and the Tahuna Park Trotting Club, is a, son of the late Mr. Sydney James. He was born in 1866 in Dunedin, where he was educated at private schools and at the Boys' High School. Mr. James entered, his father's office on leaving school, and became assistant secretary to the Dunedin Jockey Club, and on the death of his father he was appointed secretary. In 1891 Mr, James was married to a daughter of Mr. A. Sharp, farmer, of Invercargill, and has one son and one daughter.

Mr. John Stephenson , one of the founders of the Dunedin Jockey Club, was for several years its president, and vice-president for many years, He was born in 1830 at Everton, Nottingham, England, educated at Nearfield House academy, Bawtry, Yorkshire, and was brought up to agricultural pursuits, his father being a landed proprietor and well known “sport.” Inheriting his father's sporting characteristics, ho engaged a good deal in hunting in his early days, and for two years was huntsman to the Sandhurst hounds. For a long time before leaving the Old Country, Mr. Stephenson was inspired by a desire to wander and see the world. He eventually entered into an engagement—as one of twenty picked men—to go to Russia as a farm bailiff; but, getting this arrangement cancelled, he came out to Melbourne in the ship “Falcon” in 1852. After two years' experience at the Victorian gold diggings, he engaged in business as a stock dealer till 1861, when he settled in Dunedin, under employment with Messrs Jones, Bird and Co., stock and station agents; for about a year. He afterwards joined Messrs Wright, Robertson and Co., and became auctioneer to that firm in 1883. He soon became a member of the firm, the style of which was changed to Wright, Stephenson and Co. At the time of his death, on the 9th of August, 1900, he was page 208 the oldest auctioneer in Otago. Mr. Stephenson was actively interested in racing for the best part of fifty years, and from his arrival in the Colony had been an owner and breeder of racehorses. He was married in I860, and left one son—also an auctioneer—and four daughters.
Mr. Sydney James , sometime Secretary of the Dunedin Jockey Club, and then the oldest secretary of any racing club in the Australasian colonies, was born in Staffordshire, England, on the 3rd of January, 1825, Mr. James's brother was a justice of the pence and deputy lieutenant of Stafford, but lie himself was apprenticed as a factor to his own relatives in Walsall, where he served seven years. In May 1849, Mr. James landed in Adelaide, South Australia, but having decided
Mr. S. James.

Mr. S. James.

to enter into business as a wholesale saddler and saddlers' ironmonger, he shortly afterwards returned to England. In 1852, Mr. James commenced business in Melbourne under the style of Loader, James and Co.; his partner became the Hon. T. Loader. In August, 1858, Mr. James arrived in Dunedin by the 8.8 “Queen,” the first ocean going boat to pass Dunedin harbour. It lay off Grant's Braes, and the passengers landed in boats. From his arrival in Otago, Mr. James acted as secretary to the local Jockey Club, and carried on a commission agency business. During the period when auditors were elected for the City of Dunedin, Mr. James was returned to that office for ten or twelve years. As a prominent member of the order of Freemasons, he opened the first lodge and installed the first master in Otago in September, 1860, In Dunedin, having himself been initiated in Lodge St. Matthew No. 786 at Walsall, on the 14th of April, 1847. On the occasion of his Masonie Jubilee in April, 1897, he received a suitable present. He passed through every grade of the order and held office as Deputy District Grand Master, and District Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Otago and Southland, E.C. During his residence in Melbourne he was one of the originators of the Melbourne Hunt Club. Mr, James died on the 29th of August, 1900.
Mr. Andrew Walker Bremner , formerly Clerk of Scales for the Dunedin Jockey Club, was born in Cupar, Fifeshire, Scotland, in 1848. He was educated partly in his native land and at the old stone school in lower High Street, Dunedin, having arrived at Port Chalmers by the ship “Palmyra,” In February. 1858, with his parents. he has had a varied experience as a draper, carpenter, and farmer. He spent ten years in the timber trade in the service of Messrs Guthrie and Larnach, and for the first two years of the time he was manager of the Arm's large saw mill at Catlius River, He joined Messrs, Thomson and Co., cordial manufacturers, in 1884 as traveller, and has since continued in the service of the firm in that capacity, Mr. Bremner has long been interested in sporting: he was for two years a member of the Taieri amateur turf club, and for about six years of the Tahuna Park trotting club. he became a member of the Dunedin Jockey Club in 1887, and performed the duties of clerk of scales for a number of years.

Tahuna Park Trotting Club . President, Mr. S. S. Myers; vice-president, Hon. H. Gourley; secretary, Mr. H. L. James. Office, High Street, Dunedin. This club, which was founded in 1891, and has about sixty members, is a voluntary institution for carrying out trotting meetings at Tahuna Park, which is leased from the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society. Three meetings are held annually—in the months of March, May, and December respectively.

Mr. Hugh Johnstone Gourley , who is a Steward of the Tahuna Park Trotting Club, was formerly starter for the Dunedin Jockey Club, and starter and handicapper capper for several of the provincial jockey clubs. He has been interested in racing since be was a lad of eleven, at which age he rode in a back race. Since then be has ridden his own horses in various parts of the South Island, as well as in Tasmania and Melbourne, Mr. Gourley was born in Geelong, Victoria, in 1861, and accompanied his father, the Hon. Hugh Gourley, M.L.C., in 1862, to Dunedin, where he was educated and brought up to the business of a wool-classer. For many years he has been connected with his father in the business of a livery stable keeper and undertaker. Mr. Gourley is a member of Court Enterprise, Ancient Order of Foresters. He is the sole manufacturer of the I.X.L. embrocation.

The Forbury Park Racing Club was brought into existence in the closing months of 1902. and its first meeting, as a managing body, was held on the 13th of October, 1902, with the Hon. Hugh Gourley in the chair. Race meetings were held in November, 1902, and in February of the following year. “Canteen” carried off the November Cup, of seventy guineas, and “Lady Lilian.” a Canterbury favourite, appropriated the chief trophy of the autumn meeting. A credit balance of £175 was disclosed in the annual report of November, 1903. The membership of the club, already nearly 300, is larger than that of any similar body in the colony, and is rapidly increasing. Every effort is being made to obtain a totalisator permit, and a company, in which club members are largely interested, is now (February, 1904) being formed to purchase the Forbury Park, which has htherto been used merely by temporary arrangement. Officers for the year 1903–4: President, Hon. H. Gourley; Vice-President. Mr. R. Rutherford; Secretary. Mr. E. L. Macassey; Treasurer. Mr. L. page 209 C. Hazlett; and there is also a committee consisting of twelve members.

Mr. Eustace Linden Macassey , Secretary of the Forbury Park Racing Club, was born in Maori Hill in January, 1876, and is the second son of the late Mr. James Livingston Macassey, well known in his time as one of the most brilliant barristers of the colony. He was educated at the Otago Boys' High School, and afterwards spent several years in the firm of Messrs Murray, Roberts and Co. Mr. Macassey commenced business on his own account in 1896. As an Athlete he has won in rowing, running, walking, and cross-country matches, and made several brilliant performances.