NEW STAND AT ELLERSLIE

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29221, 3 June 1960, Page 6

NEW STAND AT ELLERSLIE

Opening On Monday

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 2. Members of the Auckland Racing Club had an opportunity to tread the thick carpets and admire the luxury of their own building today, when the club opened it* new stand at Ellerslie for a preview before the opening of the winter racing carnival on Saturday. The stand, which, with its furnishings, is unofficially estimated to have cost nearly £550,000, will be officially opened on Monday by Mr G. H. Grigg, president of the New Zealand Racing Conference. Probably one of the most modern and magnificent racing stands in the world, it has five storeys directly in front of the finishing post It has seating accommodation for between 3500 and 4000 people in blue leather-ette-upholstered seats. A special president's suite on the top floor is entirely self-contained and can be shut off from the rest of the stand. It is panelled in Australian walnut and is furnished with mahogany chairs and tables and deep leather armchairs. The president’s veranda overlooking the course has upholstered cane chair* and tables. The suite has under-carpet heating, a built-in radiogram and provision for television.

Bars, lounges, dining rooms and totalisator booths extend on each floor on either side of the central lift and stair well. Each room is differently designed with its own panelling and furniture. The building include* owners* and trainers’ rooms, an area reserved for the public with dining accomodation for 500 people bar and betting facilities, a jockeys* room, weighingin room, inquiry room, and a main kitchen designed to feed as many as 6000 people.