JOINT USE OF ADDINGTON

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30172, 2 July 1963, Page 5

JOINT USE OF ADDINGTON

Future Of Trotting In Canterbury Assured

The future of trotting in Canterbury was assured for all time as a result of the New Brighton Trotting Club’s decision to come to Addington, said the president (Mr J. K. Davidson) in his review of the year’s activities at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club last night.

The decision was the most momentous in trotting in Christchurch, said Mr Davidson. This was not an amalgamation, but a joining

together of the Canterbury. Park, New Brighton and New Zealand Metropolitan dubs, each retaining its own identity, but sharing the facilities and contributing to the upkeep of the course and Addington Trotting Course, Limited.

The negotiations had been carried out in a most friendly spirit and to the mutual benefit of all, he added.

The track at Addm®*on had been completely regraded and redrain-ed and now could b“ said to be an atarcst all weather track, said Mr Davidsc n. when referring to the many changes made art Addington during the year. The efficiency of the drainiage had been most apparent following the downpour on New Zealand Cup day. The new low running rail had received rather illinformed criticism at its inception, but in spite of that it now- became an unqualified success.

A completely new layout had been achieved in the area of the previous members' car park. New horse stalls had been placed in that area, providing open stalls for daily training, stalls for race meetings and overnight stalls for visiting horses, enabling them to remain at the course

The new members’ car park had been sited in the old horse stall and parade ring area, said Mr Davidson. It would hold more than 1000 cars and would give much easier access to the members' stand. Entrance to the new park would be from Wright’s road.

The new grandstand was in an advanced stage of construction and would be ready

for occupation in November of this year. The whole track and grounds had been floodlit in preparation for the start of night trotting on the club's third darte in November. Lighting Seventeen floodlights had been erected around the track. Six of these were 80 feet high and were sited in the front straight, while there were 11 60-foot standards around ’the remainder of the track. Forty-four 40-foot standards had been erected around the grounds, car parks and so on., he said.

The new public grandstand would be adequately lit throughout to a high standard for night trotting, while there would be a considerable increase in the lighting in the members’ stand.

The area previously occupied by the old training tracks had been levelled and lit Access to that area would be from Wright's road. Betting facilities had been increased for night trotting. The ratio of selling to payout windows had been improved to 1.25 to one to allow for increased turnover. There would be betting facilities on the mezzanine floor and on the ground floor at the western end of the new

public grandstand. A new totidisator .will be bulk backing on to the new horse stall area. That would cope with the increased number of persons ait the wester® end of the grounds to the vicinity of the mound near the entrance to the straight. The former women’s bar o® the top floor of the members' stand was to be converted into a pay-out area, said Mr Davidson. Attendances There had been a fallingoff in attendances during the season, he added, but that had bee® expected because of the loss for the whole season of the public grandstand. In spite of that factor, the year had again been a most successful one. Apart from the downpour just before the racing started on New Zealand Cup day. the club had been fortunate with the weather for its nine days. TataMsartor turnover, both on and off-course, for the season had totalled £1,790,000, compared with £1.898.226 5s for the previous year. Reduced Fees Suggested A recommendation that nomination fees be reduced from £2 to £1 was passed ai the annual meeting of the New Zealand MetropoMten Trotting Club last night. He could not see how owners could reduce expenses, but felt that the suggested reduction in nomination fees would not affect the club, said Mr C. L. Rhodes. Sudh a move would help all owners, he added, and would cost the club only £l6OO a year on the . figures for the I last financial year.