A farm with a racecourse
‘‘We’re not racing people ... we saw the farm advertised, we liked it and bought it.’’ Derek Adams
Not many New Zealanders have owned a racecourse but Derek Adams has.
The retired farmer, now living in Winton, formerly owned the land that race meetings were held on at Wairio. The racecourse was part of his farm and had been for many decades before the Adams family bought it in 1959.
Memories of the early Wairio race meetings have come up in discussions this week with the Wairio Jockey Club’s annual race day being held in Invercargill on Sunday.
By taking ownership of the racecourse, through buying the farm, it did not tempt the family to become followers of the sport.
‘‘We’re not racing people ... we saw the farm advertised, we liked it and bought it,’’ Adams said.
‘‘[At the time] it was one of two racecourses in New Zealand that was on privately owned land.’’
The Wairio trotting and jockey clubs paid rent to Adams to hold race meetings.
Adams took over sole ownership of the farm in 1965. Two years later, the clubs had moved their race days to other tracks.
Nowadays, the jockey club races at Ascot Park in
Invercargill and the Wairio Trotting Club holds meetings at Winton.
The jockey club was formed in 1892.
Wairio race meetings in the western Southland town drew
large crowds, Adams said.
‘‘They were well-supported, they came from everywhere ... 300 or 400 [people] and a lot of horses.’’
The only structure from the racecourse days, remaining on
the farm – now owned by Adams’ son, Michael – is the concrete members’ stand. Its roof section was sold at auction to farmer John Greer, who now uses it as an implement shed.
‘‘It’s made a beautiful shed ... it’ll probably outlast me,’’ he said.
Greer is a member of the jockey club and plans to be at its annual race day on Sunday.
The eight horses nominated for the feature race, the $25,000 Wairio Cup (2000 metres), are Flying Sardine, Ritani, He’s Got Power, Picture Me Rollin, Rosie Glow, Our Boy Ritchie, Gold’nguru and Ruby Marie.
Flying Sardine gained her 16th win when successful in an open 1600 metres at Riverton last Thursday. Her co-trainer Kelvin Tyler, of Riverton, said she was in her final season of campaigning.
‘‘She’s a tough horse ... as long as she keeps racing well, we’ll keep racing her [this season].’’
Tyler and training partnerdaughter, Aimee, won the Wairio Cup with Lil Miss Swiss in 2019.
The Tylers intend to start 12 or 14 horses at the Wairio meeting. Race fields will be finalised today.