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LinkFacebook LinkDate Created15th August 2014Comments
Karen Thomas
It always rain and put off
Geoff Guenole
Sure looks like it's raining cats and dogs in that picture.
Jacqui Paterson
Sometimes rains and is put off. Far from always.
Judy Ann Hinde
My Zimbabwean husbands first trip to NZ and I brought him home to the coast....and the Kumara Races for a real west coast experience. In one day he met a Mayor, an undertaker and Winston Peters....it was a great 25 years of marriage later and he still talks often of this event. It was truly a great day out.
Fraser Mitchell
Great day out, down for the day from Reefton
Michael Mcilraith
Won many races there love the place
Karen Thomas
Go to Riccarton races to a real cup meeting
Jim Wilson
Been here a few times!
· Reply · 1h
Victoria Hoskin
NZ racing was built on picnic meetings and were an important and very well supported community event - the racing board and beaurocracy has killed Nz racing and given us a commercial plastic rebranded version of a once thriving industry
Graeme Peters
Great place to get sun burnt or drunk
Lyndon Cooper
Graeme Peters or both how you going Harry
Joanne Lilley
Best day as a kid, everyone bought you ice cream, and running around looking for discarded winning tickets or money.
Michael Nolan
Always a great day wet or fine.
Helen Nolan
Michael Nolan too bloody right!!
Alan Messenger
Conversely, I used to go to a lot of trotting meetings around NZ and South Australia and I could always guarantee to run into somebody from the West Coast.
Lynne Kearns-Corbett
Loved the Kumara races when I first started hanging and
Judy Kemp
Always loved our day at the Kumara races.
Runanga Miners’ Hall Project - ‘Restoring the Hall, Restoring the Community
Awesome love it can’t wait every year .. !!
Wendy Hay
I'm in Emma Ross Samson Webb
Jacob Webb anyone else?
·
Emma Ross
Wendy Hay yes hopefully covid doesnt stuff it up
Dot Stewart
Liked the picnic races Got bitten on the rump when I was 4 by a German Shepherd that wasn't such a nice day.
Sue McCallum
I remember as a kid going in a bus to Kumara races and I sat around burden cage waiting for old man Freddie Tibbles with his clerk horse Clint I got to sit on him between races I grew to love ginger horses and iv bred a few over the years and 1 went on to compete nationally and in OZZ in high level Dressage
Judy Ann Hinde
My Zimbabwean husbands first trip to NZ and I brought him home to the coast....and the Kumara Races for a real west coast experience. In one day he met a Mayor, an undertaker and Winston Peters....it was a great introduction to kiwi hospitality. 25 years of marriage later and he still talks often of this event. It was truly a great day out.
Fraser Mitchell
Great day out, down for the day from Reefton
Michael Mcilraith
Won many races there love the place
Karen Thomas
Go to Riccarton races to a real cup meeting
Jim Wilson
Been here a few times!
Victoria Hoskin
NZ racing was built on picnic meetings and were an important and very well supported community event - the racing board and beaurocracy has killed Nz racing and given us a commercial plastic rebranded version of a once thriving industry
Graeme Peters
Great place to get sun burnt or drunk
Lyndon Cooper
Graeme Peters or both how you going Harry
Darryl Eason
Hi Harry long time
Darryl Eason
Graeme Peters Back in the day !!!I hope your families well
Joanne Lilley
Best day as a kid, everyone bought you ice cream, and running around looking for discarded winning tickets or money.
Michael Nolan
Always a great day wet or fine.
Helen Nolan
Michael Nolan too bloody right!!
Alan Messenger
Conversely, I used to go to a lot of trotting meetings around NZ and South Australia and I could always guarantee to run into somebody from the West Coast.
Lynne Kearns-Corbett
Loved the Kumara races when I first started hanging and riding thoroughbreds.
Judy Kemp
Always loved our day at the Kumara races.
Wendy Hay
I'm in Emma Ross Samson Webb
Jacob Webb anyone else?
Emma Ross
Wendy Hay yes hopefully covid doesnt stuff it up
Dot Stewart
Liked the picnic racesLee Williams
Oh look, there I am.. · Reply · 18h
Frances Keating
Lee Williams the one looking really fabulous
Craig Colville
Use to love going there when i was a boy....mum and dad use to run the bar
Bill Sullivan
Great day out
Grant Ilton
Born and bred in Kumara.
Love going to the races.
Best place to catch up with old friends.
Roberta Moore
Yes been there. Was working in the totalisator the day we turned over $100K at a race meeting on the coast.
Kerry Keating
When we were kids, it was a great family picnic day out. Nowadays the club needed sponsorship so one of the brewing giants stepped in. Don't get me wrong though, I'm happy they solved the clubs financial worry's. The problem is the drunken no hopes. Their drunken behaviour is no where near Coast standards. It may have improved since the last time I was there, but I doubt it. Someone, please update me.
Bill Garth
Kerry Keating I thought MOBIL sponsored it. They brought big crowds to their marquee at the start of the straight.
Kerry Keating
Bill Garth DB had marquee and a few other outlets on the ground for a long time. A few weeks after Dad passed away, relatives came over from Christchurch to give Mum a day off out at Kumara. When we pulled into the grassed parking area, a drunken lout was urinating out in the open. It upset Mum badly. I went up to the lout and pulled him away from the fence, he unfortunately fell over and landed face first into the area he urinated in. He wouldn't get that drunk on MOBILs products.
Anne Honey
The last time we were there they were called of bad weather but we got our white bait sandwiches. A
5h
Reply
Peter Spence
Last there 67' - walked in the gate and placed a bet on 'Rust' which paid out nicely - blew it all on the following races - but what a great day out at that country course!!
Margaret Loper
Haven't been there since early sixtys Good picnic day out
Clearwater Photography
Is this recent ?
Heather Newby
Clearwater Photography It was posted in 2014 but i dont know what year it was taken
Yvonne Lawson
I worked there one year late 60’s. my Mother in Law did the tea rooms every year.
Wendy James
I remember Hokitika 1970 to 1980,s we went every year my dad was the gentleman that brought in winners .
Beverley Leopold
We loved a day at The races good fun
Country Blooms
·
Won best dress back in the day
Jenny Haines
Mum and dad Kumara born, never missed a meeting.
Jill Adams
Great day out
Wendy James
I remember Hokitika 1970 to 1980,s we went every year my dad was the gentleman that brought in winners .
Geoff Guenole
It's the best reunion day on the planet. No matter where you meet someone from Kumara around the world after they say Hi the first question they ask is "are you going to the races". Great effort by everyone to keep it going. Long may it continue.
Nina Townsend
Great times heaps of locals cum outta dere caves for dis one lol
Maree Lawlor
Ohh we had some fun times there!!
Richard Biddulph
Rode winner there 1963. The dust was flying that day. The next year I nearly lost my gumboots in the birdcage.
Roy W Bright
The Melbourne Cup of the Westcoast :)
Raewyne Whitcombe Walker
Picnic day beginning January,, we always had crayfish in ours... loved them times..
Anne-Marie Dixon
Best day out ever . We still go every year as a family love it
Nadene Small
Best day out ever.went with family for years.
Bev Kelly
I've never been to the Kumara races yet........must be the only coaster who hasn't :-(
Rosemary Thomas
You aren't the only one Bev, :)
Heather Newby
It`s exciting at the races.. such an event!
Rosemary Thomas
I'm sure they are Heather. By the time I was old enough to enjoy them, I had moved to Chch then on to Perth
Dianne Blythe
Never been to them
William Albert Whitehead
Thats me leaning against fence waiting for Paddy Blanchfield to take me for a beer.
Karen Thomas
It always rain and put off
Geoff Guenole
Sure looks like it's raining cats and dogs in that picture.
Jacqui Paterson
Sometimes rains and is put off. Far from always.
Judy Ann Hinde
My Zimbabwean husbands first trip to NZ and I brought him home to the coast....and the Kumara Races for a real west coast experience. In one day he met a Mayor, an undertaker and Winston Peters....it was a great 25 years of marriage later and he still talks often of this event. It was truly a great day out.
Fraser Mitchell
Great day out, down for the day from Reefton
Michael Mcilraith
Won many races there love the place
Karen Thomas
Go to Riccarton races to a real cup meeting
Jim Wilson
Been here a few times!
· Reply · 1h
Victoria Hoskin
NZ racing was built on picnic meetings and were an important and very well supported community event - the racing board and beaurocracy has killed Nz racing and given us a commercial plastic rebranded version of a once thriving industry
Graeme Peters
Great place to get sun burnt or drunk
Lyndon Cooper
Graeme Peters or both how you going Harry
Joanne Lilley
Best day as a kid, everyone bought you ice cream, and running around looking for discarded winning tickets or money.
Michael Nolan
Always a great day wet or fine.
Helen Nolan
Michael Nolan too bloody right!!
Alan Messenger
Conversely, I used to go to a lot of trotting meetings around NZ and South Australia and I could always guarantee to run into somebody from the West Coast.
Lynne Kearns-Corbett
Loved the Kumara races when I first started hanging and
Judy Kemp
Always loved our day at the Kumara races.
Runanga Miners’ Hall Project - ‘Restoring the Hall, Restoring the Community
Awesome love it can’t wait every year .. !!
Wendy Hay
I'm in Emma Ross Samson Webb
Jacob Webb anyone else?
·
Emma Ross
Wendy Hay yes hopefully covid doesnt stuff it up
Dot Stewart
Liked the picnic races Got bitten on the rump when I was 4 by a German Shepherd that wasn't such a nice day.
Sue McCallum
I remember as a kid going in a bus to Kumara races and I sat around burden cage waiting for old man Freddie Tibbles with his clerk horse Clint I got to sit on him between races I grew to love ginger horses and iv bred a few over the years and 1 went on to compete nationally and in OZZ in high level Dressage
Judy Ann Hinde
My Zimbabwean husbands first trip to NZ and I brought him home to the coast....and the Kumara Races for a real west coast experience. In one day he met a Mayor, an undertaker and Winston Peters....it was a great introduction to kiwi hospitality. 25 years of marriage later and he still talks often of this event. It was truly a great day out.
Fraser Mitchell
Great day out, down for the day from Reefton
Michael Mcilraith
Won many races there love the place
Karen Thomas
Go to Riccarton races to a real cup meeting
Jim Wilson
Been here a few times!
Victoria Hoskin
NZ racing was built on picnic meetings and were an important and very well supported community event - the racing board and beaurocracy has killed Nz racing and given us a commercial plastic rebranded version of a once thriving industry
Graeme Peters
Great place to get sun burnt or drunk
Lyndon Cooper
Graeme Peters or both how you going Harry
Darryl Eason
Hi Harry long time
Darryl Eason
Graeme Peters Back in the day !!!I hope your families well
Joanne Lilley
Best day as a kid, everyone bought you ice cream, and running around looking for discarded winning tickets or money.
Michael Nolan
Always a great day wet or fine.
Helen Nolan
Michael Nolan too bloody right!!
Alan Messenger
Conversely, I used to go to a lot of trotting meetings around NZ and South Australia and I could always guarantee to run into somebody from the West Coast.
Lynne Kearns-Corbett
Loved the Kumara races when I first started hanging and riding thoroughbreds.
Judy Kemp
Always loved our day at the Kumara races.
Wendy Hay
I'm in Emma Ross Samson Webb
Jacob Webb anyone else?
Emma Ross
Wendy Hay yes hopefully covid doesnt stuff it up
Dot Stewart
Liked the picnic racesLee Williams
Oh look, there I am.. · Reply · 18h
Frances Keating
Lee Williams the one looking really fabulous
Craig Colville
Use to love going there when i was a boy....mum and dad use to run the bar
Bill Sullivan
Great day out
Grant Ilton
Born and bred in Kumara.
Love going to the races.
Best place to catch up with old friends.
Roberta Moore
Yes been there. Was working in the totalisator the day we turned over $100K at a race meeting on the coast.
Kerry Keating
When we were kids, it was a great family picnic day out. Nowadays the club needed sponsorship so one of the brewing giants stepped in. Don't get me wrong though, I'm happy they solved the clubs financial worry's. The problem is the drunken no hopes. Their drunken behaviour is no where near Coast standards. It may have improved since the last time I was there, but I doubt it. Someone, please update me.
Bill Garth
Kerry Keating I thought MOBIL sponsored it. They brought big crowds to their marquee at the start of the straight.
Kerry Keating
Bill Garth DB had marquee and a few other outlets on the ground for a long time. A few weeks after Dad passed away, relatives came over from Christchurch to give Mum a day off out at Kumara. When we pulled into the grassed parking area, a drunken lout was urinating out in the open. It upset Mum badly. I went up to the lout and pulled him away from the fence, he unfortunately fell over and landed face first into the area he urinated in. He wouldn't get that drunk on MOBILs products.
Anne Honey
The last time we were there they were called of bad weather but we got our white bait sandwiches. A
5h
Reply
Peter Spence
Last there 67' - walked in the gate and placed a bet on 'Rust' which paid out nicely - blew it all on the following races - but what a great day out at that country course!!
Margaret Loper
Haven't been there since early sixtys Good picnic day out
Clearwater Photography
Is this recent ?
Heather Newby
Clearwater Photography It was posted in 2014 but i dont know what year it was taken
Yvonne Lawson
I worked there one year late 60’s. my Mother in Law did the tea rooms every year.
Wendy James
I remember Hokitika 1970 to 1980,s we went every year my dad was the gentleman that brought in winners .
Beverley Leopold
We loved a day at The races good fun
Country Blooms
·
Won best dress back in the day
Jenny Haines
Mum and dad Kumara born, never missed a meeting.
Jill Adams
Great day out
Wendy James
I remember Hokitika 1970 to 1980,s we went every year my dad was the gentleman that brought in winners .
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West Coast New Zealand History (12th Dec 2023). Kumara Races.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 4th Apr 2026 22:44, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/7569