Story: Horse and greyhound racing

Ruamāhanga races

Ruamāhanga races

John Pearse painted this watercolour of a race meeting held on the Ruamāhanga River plain, Wairarapa, in 1852. Māori participated enthusiastically in races during the 1850s, entering horses, acting as stewards or simply attending as spectators.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: E-455-f-070-1
Watercolour by John Pearse

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Mary Mountier, 'Horse and greyhound racing - Horse racing: beginnings', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/38937/ruamahanga-races (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Mary Mountier, published 5 Sep 2013, updated 1 Nov 2015