History of Franklin Trotting Club

 

 

The Franklin Trotting Club came into being when it was resolved by a meeting of interested people in the Orange Hall , Pukekohe on 1^st July 1948, that “A trotting club be formed to be called the Franklin Trotting Club”. The first President was Mr. W.C.S. Hosking.

 

At the first annual general meeting of the club held on 2^nd June 1949 it was a recommendation to the incoming committee to purchase 38.5 acres of land to be used for training purposes and to hold race meetings.

 

The land was under offer to the club at 90 pound an acre.

 

From the foresight shown by this small group of people the Franklin Trotting Club’s training centre on Station Road, Pukekohe, has become what is today, over 60 years later, the busiest harness racing complex in Australasia.

Club property now totals over 38 hectares and includes three training surfaces, two being metal based (all-weather), and one, sand based. As well as four separate stable complexes on land adjacent to the tracks with two of these stable complexes each having a three bedroom house.

At it’s busiest, during the mid – 1990’s the complex would have almost 300 horses being educated and prepared there. The bulk of the 80 plus trainers from the surrounding district presently use the club’s facilities with some having their own jogging tracks and only need to visit the training centre for fast work.

Access ways have been formed by the club to allow trainers from all adjacent stables complexes to travel to the centre without using the public roadways.

 

Throughout each racing season horses based at Pukekohe travel regularly to race meeting at Alexandra Park, Auckland and to Cambridge Raceway. These horses make-up a fair proportion of the race fields at both venues.

 

In addition to providing the best training facilities possible, the club conducts official qualifying and barrier trials on a regular monthly basis. Organised workouts are also staged once a month. Under cover tie-up stalls cater for 140 horses.

 

Members of the public are welcome to attend trials and workouts and view these from the trackside dining facility built by the club.

 

Early in 1998 the club reconstructed the main training track and a ‘Eurotrack’ was formed by replacing the traditional ‘hub’ or ‘running’ rail with pylons as track markers.

Remote control starting equipment for the education of young or inexperienced horses was introduced, as well as photo finish facilities for official trials meetings and ultimately full totalisator race meetings at the track.

Completing facilities provided by the club include a blacksmith shop ( now converted to a tack shop)’ public toilet block, a three level judges box, workshop and vehicle housing, while an administration block contains the club’s offices, St Johns room, Members Lounge and board room.

 

At present the barns are almost at full occupancy so should you be interested in what horse accommodation is available please contact the Franklin Trotting Club office.

 

During period 1950 to 1958 club race meetings were conducted at the Franklin racing Club’s track ( now known as Pukekohe Park). The inaugural meeting was held Saturday 22^nd July 1950.

The club moved to Alexandra Park Raceway Auckland following the introduction of night racing in November 1959, the first of the present four tenant club’s racing at this venue to centralise.

 

A total of eight race meetings are presently staged by the club each season. Seven meetings (night) being held at Alexandra Park, plus one local meeting at Pukekohe Park.

 

The club’s major event each season is the Pak’n save Franklin Cup for the best pacing horses available and is held in November. Stake money for the 2009 edition of the cup totalled $ 70,000.00 plus silver cup and was a Group 2 event.

 

One other Group race is staged by the club each season, the Powell Transport North Island Breeders Stakes for fillies and mares. This event presently has Group 3 status.

 

Always receiving enthusiastic member and public support, the meetings bring a buzz to Alexandra Park when the club makes the 40 kilometre journey along the motorway to Auckland.

The inaugural totalisator meeting was held on Saturday July 22 1950 at Franklin Racing Club’s Course. It was an 8 race card with a start time of 10.45am.

President: W.C.S. Hosking

Vice- Presidents: J.M. Heise and R.J. Crosbie

Hon secretary: S.C. Childs

Committee: Edgar Fausett, P.V. Flexman, E. Grimmond, W. Kane, F.J. McAnulty and F. Symes

Stewards: G. Bellingham, F. Burns, M.J. Cooper, Wallace Craig, O. Denize, J.H. Flay, R. Garland, A. McKenzie, R.C. Mason, P. O’Brien, P.S. Ryburn, Howard Smalley, B. Smith, R. Smith, C.S. Stoupe and S. Symes.