17 May 2026

Dusting off the Silks

Ngā Manukura.Local Legends.

Writer: As told to Anna Brankin (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe)

photographer: Ashleigh Ryan

For over 150 years, the Chatham Islands Jockey Club has been woven into the fabric of island life. For club treasurer, harness driver and trainer Monique Croon (Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri), 59, that connection runs deep through six generations of her whānau. Here, Monique and other women involved in the races reflect on the club’s history and significance to the community.

Above. “Celebrating 150 years was a pretty big deal, with lots of our older jockeys dusting off their silks to ride just for the special occasion,” says Monique.

“My tīpuna were among the original landowners who signed the lease in 1874, allowing the club to be created,” Monique says. The club celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2024, a significant milestone that saw even more excitement and celebration than usual around the annual three-day racing event, held in late December. “We’re the second-oldest registered jockey club in New Zealand, and we’re pretty proud of that,” Monique says.

The club’s longevity is remarkable, particularly given Rēkohu Wharekauri Chatham Islands’ remote location – some 800 kilometres from mainland Aotearoa. Monique explains that, in some ways, the isolation has helped foster the racing culture. “For a long time everyone’s way of life was riding horses to get around the island,” she says. “A lot of our local people just loved racehorses. My tīpuna were importing racehorses from Sydney.” The club has evolved significantly over its history. “In the early 2000s, there was danger of it dying out. The jockeys had gotten too heavy, and there weren’t as many new trainers coming through,” Monique says. “That was when Ray Pirika introduced pacing to the island, and from that time on, we’ve had combined jockey meet races – gallops and pacing – and our numbers have been strong.”

Above. The annual races are an important event in the island’s social calendar, an opportunity for people to dress up, including jockey Tiffany McClunie, 30, far left. “I took off my silky racing shirt, ran inside with my little go bag and quickly changed into the outfit I had already picked out. I still had a mark from my racing boots across my calf. I didn’t want to miss out on dressing up – it’s not very often you get to put on your full frock and dress up with the ladies!”

Horses, jockeys and harness drivers also come over from the mainland to participate in the annual Chatham Islands Races – although Monique is quick to say that the focus is more on the community aspect of the event. “We are an amateur club. We are all extremely competitive, and rules are important but they are not the same as for other clubs. It’s always about safety first, but also improving Island-born thoroughbreds. We are also reliant on the many volunteers who ensure that everyone has a great day – we definitely aren’t professional compared to other clubs,” she says with a laugh. “Many whānau are back on the island having Christmas together. Everyone brings their picnics and it’s a time to gather and catch up. It is such a special time.”

Above. Cassidy Rose Solomon, pictured here on Hoi Boy, loves the cowboy look. Like all local riders she rides on Waitangi Beach, where the Chatham Islands’ unique environment provides an ideal training ground for the technical demands of racing. “We’ve got a lovely, beautiful beach to train on down at Waitangi,” Monique says. “In the months before the races, we’re all down the beach when it’s low tide, and there are horses everywhere and people gathering pipi. It’s almost chaos, but it’s such a festive feeling.”

Above. Monique has been training and driving pacers since 2012, forming deep connections with her horses, including Rock N Diamonds, pictured here, and her champion mare American Alice. “We have a huge bond. She’s been very successful, and I’ve won the Chatham Pacing Cup on her, and she’s won every other race. To me, she is the Rolls-Royce of horses.”

Continue reading the story in our Ngahuru Autumn Edition 2026.

Get your copy