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ALBUM - Kumara race day .
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DescriptionBrian Beban
I worked in the Tote at Kumara for the James Family for a few years in the early 60's. The calculators used were about 4 blokes who calculated the odds as a group around a table based on consensus on a rolling basis. No calculators, only pencils and paper and brains hard at work.Map[1] ContributorJune Bland
I worked in the Tote at Kumara for the James Family for a few years in the early 60's. The calculators used were about 4 blokes who calculated the odds as a group around a table based on consensus on a rolling basis. No calculators, only pencils and paper and brains hard at work.Map[1] ContributorJune Bland
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Location (city or town)KumaraEventKumara race day
From Facebook
Date Created20th July 2022CommentsKerry Keating
It was a great day out Karen. A family, picnic day. Harder times has forced assistance from commercial interests. In comes the breweries. The area under the grandstand that was a cafe is now a bar. The little part at the Southern end of the grandstand that was used for filling kettles with hot water is now used for jugs of beer. Only a few weeks after Dad died, relations came over from Christchurch to give Mum a day out. When we got there, the first thing we saw was a drunken sod urinating in full view of everyone. The cops took him away after I rubbed his face in it.
Karen Peters
Kerry Keating under the grandstand has always been the bar, for as long as I have known. The tearooms is at the back of grandstand. I remember where the hot water came from. You always will get someone to spoil the show. I have had that experience at Riccarton on cup day
Kerry Keating
Kumara race day is not the only fun day out venue to be ruined by alcohol. New Zealand sports venues are gradually being taken over by brewery giants. A lot of people wrongly believe rugby union is our national sport. If things keep going the way they are, schooner drinking will soon be.
PaulAnthony Teens
Kerry Keating sounds like u joined the AA and don’t like anyone else having a drink!!
Kerry Keating
I don't begrudge anyone having a drink. It's the weak morons who go with the temptation placed in front of them by the brewery's. They drink to excess and ruin the day out for everyone else,,, little children included.
Brian Beban
I worked in the Tote at Kumara for the James Family for a few years in the early 60's. The calculators used were about 4 blokes who calculated the odds as a group around a table based on consensus on a rolling basis. No calculators, only pencils and paper and brains hard at work.
Denise Lois Gordon - Hill
Brian Beban our father worked up and down the coast in the totes for many years
Karen Peters
Brian Beban i also worked in the tote for James family. Kumara was always so busy
Barbara Fitzsimmons
Just look st me .I'm always in the crowd .love the Races
Daphne Mckay
Thank you for sharing!!!
Myra Barry
I used to help in the kitchen so many years ago but what a day that was
Ann Bradley
Always loved the Kumara races. Not such a crowd in the Grandstand or bar these days as many are lured to Corporate and group tents that they don’t leave.
Tim James
Brilliant, I was on the indicator boards with Dermot Costello
Marlene Mathieson
I worked in the tote for about 16 years from the early 70's.My father in law Harry Mathieson got me the job.He was one of the men who sat around the table working out the calculations. He worked there for many years before I started.It was a great place to work.Lots of memories from the Tote days.
Pip Smith
Marlene Mathieson Harry (or Henry as my Mum Called him) had the most amazing brain for numbers!
Jenny Marshall
Marlene Mathieson I worked for Marion and Phil for a few years checking the winnings tickets after the pay outs. And remember Harry as our finals figures had to agree. I never worked at kumara as our family was the other side. Good days
Sandra Arnott
Yes I worked there as well,in tote,yes it was all done long hand!
Anne Bruce
I also worked for James, the Kumara 100th anniversay, power cut caused havoc! Working for them, especially the night trots, taught ne the utter futility of gambling.
Reply1h
Pauline Schafer
He was my first boss, and he he showed me how to save a dollar or two. No such thing as scrap paper, you used the envelopes the mail came in. When the blokes wanted a pencil, you broken them in half and gave them a half pencil as they were always losing them. He was a good boss though, and I used my shorthand skills to take down letters there at the mill.
Linda Hay
Not getting crowds like that at the races these days
Marlene Mathieson
I remember you Jenny.You lived across the road from us in a little cottage many years ago.
Alan N Barb Cochrane
alwas a great day went to a few
Liz Hay
My grandmother from Hokitika would have her little 'flutter' at the Kumara Races. It was one of her few pleasures in the 50s and 60s. She took a pound or two, and usually came home with a little more than she took! Or so the legend goes...
Mary Hood
MY husband Lyall worked there on the gates
Glenda Bishop
My Dad worked for Phil James in the tote for years until the totalizators went electronic.
James Rob
I worked on the gates also. I was the 15 year old kid driving the tractor, my grandfather's little Massey Ferguson 35.
Some objected to me being too young but the starter at the time was Ray Burgess and he was a family friend and what he said went. Good times.
Melanie Ramsden
I hope I have this right.
I went to Kumara from Melbourne and attended the 100th anniversary race meeting. There was a costume ball the night before.
My Auntie Jessie (Spiers) presented the gold nugget for the family. My great grandfather, Alec Spiers, who was mayor for some years, owned racehorses in Kumara. Legend has it that one was related to Pharlap.
Stephanie Cameron
Pip and I sold $1 tickets for many years when we got older we did some paying out. We had to sweep the dusty bird pooped floor of the tote houses in many places and sort out silly things like rubber bands and other stationery.
So many lovely memories of the tote people who worked for our Grandparents Digby and Nell and for our parents Phil and Marion.
But we could never beat Henry when doing our calculations no matter how hard we tried.
Margaret Campbell
Good old digby and Phil James
Marie Ewens
Brian Beban ...you would have been just a lad
Bill Garth
A number of Marist boys worked in the tote. I was still at school when I worked at the night trots. Jimmy Costello used to ring the bell 5 minutes before the tote closed. Great days at Westport, Reefton, Omoto, Victoria Park, Kumara and Hokitika. Also worked for Phil at the 3 meetings at Waimate when I moved to Timaru
John Rawcliffe
Who was the James family ?
Sandra Arnott
I did as well,for James printing did the circuit way back then eh!
It was a great day out Karen. A family, picnic day. Harder times has forced assistance from commercial interests. In comes the breweries. The area under the grandstand that was a cafe is now a bar. The little part at the Southern end of the grandstand that was used for filling kettles with hot water is now used for jugs of beer. Only a few weeks after Dad died, relations came over from Christchurch to give Mum a day out. When we got there, the first thing we saw was a drunken sod urinating in full view of everyone. The cops took him away after I rubbed his face in it.
Karen Peters
Kerry Keating under the grandstand has always been the bar, for as long as I have known. The tearooms is at the back of grandstand. I remember where the hot water came from. You always will get someone to spoil the show. I have had that experience at Riccarton on cup day
Kerry Keating
Kumara race day is not the only fun day out venue to be ruined by alcohol. New Zealand sports venues are gradually being taken over by brewery giants. A lot of people wrongly believe rugby union is our national sport. If things keep going the way they are, schooner drinking will soon be.
PaulAnthony Teens
Kerry Keating sounds like u joined the AA and don’t like anyone else having a drink!!
Kerry Keating
I don't begrudge anyone having a drink. It's the weak morons who go with the temptation placed in front of them by the brewery's. They drink to excess and ruin the day out for everyone else,,, little children included.
Brian Beban
I worked in the Tote at Kumara for the James Family for a few years in the early 60's. The calculators used were about 4 blokes who calculated the odds as a group around a table based on consensus on a rolling basis. No calculators, only pencils and paper and brains hard at work.
Denise Lois Gordon - Hill
Brian Beban our father worked up and down the coast in the totes for many years
Karen Peters
Brian Beban i also worked in the tote for James family. Kumara was always so busy
Barbara Fitzsimmons
Just look st me .I'm always in the crowd .love the Races
Daphne Mckay
Thank you for sharing!!!
Myra Barry
I used to help in the kitchen so many years ago but what a day that was
Ann Bradley
Always loved the Kumara races. Not such a crowd in the Grandstand or bar these days as many are lured to Corporate and group tents that they don’t leave.
Tim James
Brilliant, I was on the indicator boards with Dermot Costello
Marlene Mathieson
I worked in the tote for about 16 years from the early 70's.My father in law Harry Mathieson got me the job.He was one of the men who sat around the table working out the calculations. He worked there for many years before I started.It was a great place to work.Lots of memories from the Tote days.
Pip Smith
Marlene Mathieson Harry (or Henry as my Mum Called him) had the most amazing brain for numbers!
Jenny Marshall
Marlene Mathieson I worked for Marion and Phil for a few years checking the winnings tickets after the pay outs. And remember Harry as our finals figures had to agree. I never worked at kumara as our family was the other side. Good days
Sandra Arnott
Yes I worked there as well,in tote,yes it was all done long hand!
Anne Bruce
I also worked for James, the Kumara 100th anniversay, power cut caused havoc! Working for them, especially the night trots, taught ne the utter futility of gambling.
Reply1h
Pauline Schafer
He was my first boss, and he he showed me how to save a dollar or two. No such thing as scrap paper, you used the envelopes the mail came in. When the blokes wanted a pencil, you broken them in half and gave them a half pencil as they were always losing them. He was a good boss though, and I used my shorthand skills to take down letters there at the mill.
Linda Hay
Not getting crowds like that at the races these days
Marlene Mathieson
I remember you Jenny.You lived across the road from us in a little cottage many years ago.
Alan N Barb Cochrane
alwas a great day went to a few
Liz Hay
My grandmother from Hokitika would have her little 'flutter' at the Kumara Races. It was one of her few pleasures in the 50s and 60s. She took a pound or two, and usually came home with a little more than she took! Or so the legend goes...
Mary Hood
MY husband Lyall worked there on the gates
Glenda Bishop
My Dad worked for Phil James in the tote for years until the totalizators went electronic.
James Rob
I worked on the gates also. I was the 15 year old kid driving the tractor, my grandfather's little Massey Ferguson 35.
Some objected to me being too young but the starter at the time was Ray Burgess and he was a family friend and what he said went. Good times.
Melanie Ramsden
I hope I have this right.
I went to Kumara from Melbourne and attended the 100th anniversary race meeting. There was a costume ball the night before.
My Auntie Jessie (Spiers) presented the gold nugget for the family. My great grandfather, Alec Spiers, who was mayor for some years, owned racehorses in Kumara. Legend has it that one was related to Pharlap.
Stephanie Cameron
Pip and I sold $1 tickets for many years when we got older we did some paying out. We had to sweep the dusty bird pooped floor of the tote houses in many places and sort out silly things like rubber bands and other stationery.
So many lovely memories of the tote people who worked for our Grandparents Digby and Nell and for our parents Phil and Marion.
But we could never beat Henry when doing our calculations no matter how hard we tried.
Margaret Campbell
Good old digby and Phil James
Marie Ewens
Brian Beban ...you would have been just a lad
Bill Garth
A number of Marist boys worked in the tote. I was still at school when I worked at the night trots. Jimmy Costello used to ring the bell 5 minutes before the tote closed. Great days at Westport, Reefton, Omoto, Victoria Park, Kumara and Hokitika. Also worked for Phil at the 3 meetings at Waimate when I moved to Timaru
John Rawcliffe
Who was the James family ?
Sandra Arnott
I did as well,for James printing did the circuit way back then eh!
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West Coast New Zealand History (3rd Aug 2024). ALBUM - Kumara race day .. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 4th Apr 2026 02:07, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/31328