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Story: Horse and greyhound racing

Watching a hurdle race

Spectators watch from carts and buggies at this hurdle race, probably at Mākaraka, near Gisborne, in the late 1880s. In the days when races were held on any available land, there were few facilities for racegoers.

Using this item

Tairawhiti Museum, Te Whare Taonga O Te Tairawhiti, William F. Crawford Collection

Reference: WFC-1-2-49

by William Crawford

Permission of Tairawhiti Museum, P O Box 716, Gisborne, 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, https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/38938/watching-a-hurdle-race (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Mary Mountier, published 30 November 2012, updated 1 November 2015.