IMPROVEMENTS AT ELLERSLIE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 190, 13 August 1928, Page 10

IMPROVEMENTS AT ELLERSLIE.

ALTERATIONS TO COURSE.

NEW MEMBERS' STAND.

ENLARGEMENT OF MAIN AND

DERBY STAND.

file Auckland Racing Club has decided to make further alterations at *Ellerslie, and this matter was referred to by Sir Edwin Mitchelson in the course of his address at the annual meeting of the club this afternoon.

Sir Edwin said that the works Included a new stand for member*, (lie enlargement of both the main and derby stand?, the abolition oi' the horse boxes in the lawn enclosure, which would be enlarged, the extension of the racecourse by taking in nearly the whole of the long* strip of allotments that were purchased from the Peach Estate some years ago, and on that side of the course providing for part of the steeplechase course to be entirely separate from the course proper; also for the improvement and extension of the totalisator houses. In view of the projected scheme of works involving an outlay of at least £200,000, it had been deemed necessary to reduce the stakes for this year and to make a ireduction in future classic races. Notwithstanding these reductions, stakes would be provided exceeding £00,000, and here lie might s'iate that the committee had been intensely disappointed at the- meagre support given b - owners to the weight-for-age races, and it would be the owners' own fault if the two weight-for-ago races were eliminated from the club's future summer pro-

grammes. Throughout the season they had good racing, excellent attendances and good weather conditions, which always tended to make race-goers liappy.

Improvements to the racecourse were still being carried out. Up to the present the work of extending tho cbur.se lias cost £(>3t»2, which liad all been written off. The work had been necessarily slow, as racing had to continue without a. stop. Tho new course would, however, be available for the Christmas meeting, but would not be finally completed until after the .Juno meeting'in 1029, when the rise near the live furlongs start would bo removed. The course would then be one of tho finest courses in the Southern Hemisphere. There was no doubt that the high standaril of racing provided at Ellorslie was much appreciated, which was clearly shown by tho continually increasing attendances. A contract had been let for a new number board, the most up-to-date number board in Australasia, at a cost of £1200, larger than the present one, and designed to give much more satisfaction to the public. Tho committee were indebted to Mr. Johnston, the secretary of the Manawatu Racing Club, for his advice and assistance in this connectiod.