Stand At Wingatui Destroyed By Fire

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28161, 27 December 1956, Page 6

Stand At Wingatui Destroyed By Fire

(Fmnz Our Own Reporter) DUNEDIN, December 26. Fire destroyed one of the Dunedin Jockey Club's grandstands after the sixth race on the second day of the Dunedin Cup meeting at Wingatui today. Fanned by a strong westerly wind, the fire soon had a strong hold on the old southern grandstand, which was soon a smouldering, charred wreck. The fire upset the day’s racing, and there was a long delay before the seventh race could be held. The alarm was given soon after the end of the sixth race. A unit of the Dunedin Fire Brigade was on the course at 3.20 p.nu, and when water was brought into play from the club’s supply 10 minutes later the grandstand was blazing fiercely.

Cars in the park outside the| blazing stand had to be moved! hurriedly, and the fire-fighters | directed their attention, to the! main totalisator house, which had been evacuated. Part of the roof ; of the grandstand collapsed at: 3.34 p.m., and at 3.45 p.m. there! was little more than a shell left.; The heat was intense close to the blaze. One woman fainted some distance from the fire, which; was watched by a crowd swelled by persons who rushed to the course from nearby districts and from Dunedin. 12 miles away. The club announced that it would be business as usual as soon as possible. Pay-outs on the sixth race were made at the doubles totalisator. The totalisator opened for betting on the seventh race, the James Hazlett Gold Cup, at 4.25 p.m. Smoke from the wreckage was still ; drifting over the roof of the totalisator house as long queues formed. ! The seven starters paraded for ' the main race at 4.25 p.m., an hour ;and a quarter behind the schedi tiled time. ; The race started about 4.55 p.m..: ! and was won by the Riccarton l three-year-old, Shahwam owned i

i|by Mr H. D. Greenwood, of .’Teviotdale.” North Canterbury.: . Mr Greenwood had flown from '; Christchurch to see his colt run,! \but because of the hold-up he: . had to return north by plane be-’ : • fore the race was decided. Mr [ : W. T. Oliver, of Winton, breeder: i [of Shah wan. and of the runner-; .! up. Ma Reine, a half-sister to the; i winner, accepted the trophy on: i behalf of Mr Greenwood. i Ten minutes after the finish of Htfae James Hazlett Gold Cup there j was a fresh outbreak of fire in t a room on the main grandstand, but it was soon under control. : Patrons were warned over the i course speakers early in the day ! to take care with cigarettes and: j matches. There was a small fire; - in the southern grandstand early : in the day, but it was thought to r be extinguished when examined ; by a fire board officer. I The last race was run at 5J5 • pm., an hour and 20 minutes late, i It was won by King Robin, a four-year-old owned by Mr J. *M. Samson, of Dunedin. About ■ 30 years ago Lava, another horse - owned by Mr Samson, won the Tally Ho Handicap the day the . stewards 3 stand was destroyed by i fire at an Otago Hunt Club meetII ing.