A BRIEF HISTORY
Racing in Hamilton began in January 1866, when the local military commander arranged a sports programme that included four horse races. The Waikato Jockey Club was formed in 1870, and a race card that has survived the years shows that seven races were run on 29 February 1872 - the second day of the meeting. No venue was stated. The only other record concerning that Club was a letter published by the "Waikato Times" on 14 January 1873, complained about the lack of subsequent racing.
On 25 October 1873, at a meeting at the Hamilton Hotel, the Waikato Turf Club was formally constituted, with 18 men listed as foundation members. The new Club's inaugural race meeting was held on a Tamahere farm property on 23/24 February 1875. In 1876 the Club raced on another nearby farm site, then transferred permanently to the Ohaupo Flat - some two miles from the nearest railway stop. It attracted some big crowds - about 1800 on 12 February 1879 - but the inaccessibility of the course, especially on wet days, eventually caused the attendance to decline. At the 1882 AGM the Chairman explained that the Club was in financial difficulties and had no chance of trading its way out of debt on the Ohaupo site. The Waikato Turf Club ran no further racemeetings, its debts were gradually repaid, and in 1887 its affairs were honourably wound up.
In April 1886 a group of Hamilton residents began renting some 80 acres of Government-owned land at Claudelands, with the right of purchase within seven years. In August of the following year the South Auckland Racing Club was established. Its leaders and officials included many business and social leaders of Hamilton and its surrounding district. During its first 12 seasons that Club provided 22 days of racing at Claudelands, but its financial difficulties during the early '90's prevented it from exercising its right of purchase.
At the 1914 AGM, after years of discussion and argument, it was agreed that the Club's title should become 'the Hamilton Racing Club' - a change that gained official recognition in 1916. The Club's lease was another cause of on-going dissension. The requirements of the owner of the property, the A & P Association did not always suit the Racing Club and the area was too small to accommodate a top class steeplechase course. From 1915 onwards there was pressure for the Club to purchase and develop its own racing complex. At the 1919 AGM the members were advised that a block of 292 acres at Te Rapa was available for 30,000 pounds and by March 1920 the deal had been signed and sealed.
The Club held its first race day at Te Rapa on 8 November 1924, and the shift of venue was soon accompanied by a new Club title. The Waikato Racing Club has now developed at its Te Rapa site a racing centre that annually provides 20 racedays on the track, generating a total on and off course betting turnover of approximately $40m per season. The Club is the flagship of the "Kentucky of New Zealand" Waikato region which contains the largest number of studs, horses and licensed personnel in what is regarded as the thoroughbred nursery of our country. It currently has initiatives under way to develop racing at Te Rapa to an even higher level.
