Born in the Christchurch suburb of Addington,[2] Eastwood was the son of Edward Eastwood and Emma Eastwood (née Suter), the daughter of Henry Suter. He married Hilda Elizabeth Pickett in 1928, and the couple had two children.[2]
Rowing
Eastwood was coxswain of the New Zealand rowing eight that toured Australia in 1925.[2]
In 1930 he coxed the New Zealand coxed four team that won the gold medal in the British Empire Games in Hamilton, and the men's eight that earned a silver medal at the same Games.[2][3]
Horse racing
Eastwood became a jockey following the success of his brother, Clifford Edward Eastwood, as a leading New Zealand apprentice jockey. Based at Riccarton, Arthur Eastwood went on to become a leading jockey in his own right, winning two New Zealand Cups, the New Zealand Derby, and the New Zealand Oaks.[2] He was first past the post in the 1930 Auckland Cup riding Gay Crest, but was subsequently relegated to second behind Motere because of interference near the end of the race.[2][4]
Eastwood died at St George's Hospital in Christchurch on 8 November 1934, as a result of injuries sustained the previous day when the horse that he was riding in a race at Riccarton fell and rolled on top of him.[2]
