THE Deepwater Jockey Club has been given a $2,000 cultural grant to help publish an historical record that traces its proud racing heritage across more than a century.
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Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall announced the funding from the State Government and said it would help the club with the costs of the publication that details its history – including during two World Wars and the Great Depression years.
Mr Marshall said the Deepwater publication was one of 24 grants under this year’s program awarded to historical societies and community organisations across NSW to help them with projects that would promote a greater awareness of history, particularly for younger generations.
He said the Deepwater Jockey Club committee had put in a lot of work to produce its publication and was a tireless working group in staging one of the best race meetings in country NSW.
“The booklet commemorates the history of these meetings,” Mr Marshall said.
Mr Marshall has also written the foreword to the booklet and says the historical document takes a delightful meander into history and highlights how important the races have always been to the social fabric of the small but vibrant community that is Deepwater.
“The book is chock-full of anecdotes, but my particular favourite was about the female racegoer who was shot in the hip by a bullet gone astray from a nearby shooting gallery,” he said.
“What a ruckus this incident would have made had it occurred in these less innocent days – and what fodder for Facebook memesters!
“The little windows into history opened by this publication are fascinating insights into how much has changed, and how fast.”
The history also records some lovely old stories of bygone days – including when race goers not only paid an entry fee but also were charged “threepence” for each horse head and a penny for every wheel attached to their carriage.
The booklet will be a centrepiece of the 150 year celebrations for the club next January.
“And the Deputy Premier Troy Grant will be invited to attend those celebrations; it will be a fairly significant race meeting because it’s the second longest-running race meeting in the state,” Mr Marshall said.
“Jockey club secretary Tricia Stack and many other members of the committee dedicated many hours of research to put this publication together and Tricia’s interest and commitment to the project has known no bounds and I have to especially commend her effort with this publication.”
