Winton Racecourse
Record Group
Identifier: A0520
Dates
- Majority of material found within 1902 - 1927
Winton Racecourse
In 1864 the Southland Provincial Council set aside Sections 2 and 3, Block IV of the Winton Hundred as a Racecourse Reserve. It was swampy land that was prone to flooding and sawdust was sometimes bought in from the Lady Barkley sawmill to help elevate the boggy track.
The Winton Jockey Club is the oldest in Southland, but unfortunately it's early records were destroyed by fire. The first recorded fixture of the club was on Nov. 9, 1875 though there had been several before. For this meeting the track was marked off with "poi grass bushes" and a rope sepearted the crowd from the track. In 1884 when the Winton Derby was first run an account in the NZ Racing Calendar at the time called it "one of the prettiest and best little courses in New Zealand".
The Winton Trotting Club was formed in 1904. It struggled in early years due to lack of interest and lack of a totalisator. In 1915 the first totalisator meeting was held with £750 instakes. Over time it became known as a succesful breeding centre of light-harness horses and popular Christmas time meetings.
Some notable events in course history include a new grandstand with tearooms being built in 1911, the Steward's stand built in 1921 - dedicated to members lost in WWI, and the first photo finish camera installed in 1947.
See Bibliography for References
The Winton Jockey Club is the oldest in Southland, but unfortunately it's early records were destroyed by fire. The first recorded fixture of the club was on Nov. 9, 1875 though there had been several before. For this meeting the track was marked off with "poi grass bushes" and a rope sepearted the crowd from the track. In 1884 when the Winton Derby was first run an account in the NZ Racing Calendar at the time called it "one of the prettiest and best little courses in New Zealand".
The Winton Trotting Club was formed in 1904. It struggled in early years due to lack of interest and lack of a totalisator. In 1915 the first totalisator meeting was held with £750 instakes. Over time it became known as a succesful breeding centre of light-harness horses and popular Christmas time meetings.
Some notable events in course history include a new grandstand with tearooms being built in 1911, the Steward's stand built in 1921 - dedicated to members lost in WWI, and the first photo finish camera installed in 1947.
See Bibliography for References
Extent
13 photograph(s) (Drawer: West 6 d)
2 digital object (Digital Archive)
Language of Materials
English
Bibliography
'Historical racing records and inauguration of the racing and trotting clubs in Otago and Southland' by W.A. Saunders.
Reference: LC 798.4 SAU
Reference: LC 798.4 SAU
- Title
- Winton Racecourse
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Invercargill City Libraries and Archives Repository
