RACING Alteration To Sprint Barrier At Ellerslie
“The Press” Special Service
AUCKLAND, Mar. ?3. Preparatory work is being done at Ellerslie for resiting the six furlongs barrier. Part of the reconstruction involves widening the steeplechase track near the six furlongs. A cutting is being dug on the outside of the course
into the rise of the steeplechase hill. When the work is finished the six furlongs start will be across from the present barrier and on the other side of the steeplechase track. The full length running rail at present used for the steeplechase track along the back of the course will eventually be removed although sections leading into and following the two jumps will be retained. From the new starting point the horses will cross the steeplechase track before joining the course proper. A temporary inside rail will be used for the sixfurlong races as far as the first bend near the five furlongs. The new barrier will remove the present disadvantage at the six furlongs of a very short run to the first turn. The present length of straight before the bend will be doubled.
The cutting in the hill slope will enable a new starting point. to be substituted for the present five furlongs barrier, which is awkwardly situated on a bend. The new barrier will allow an excellent run to the turn into the straight. It will also be used in conjunction with a temporary inside running rail. The new barrier will be ready for the spring two-year-old races. It will make the early juvenile events at Ellerslie slightly less than five furlongs. The present reconstruction job is the second that has been undertaken by the Auckland Racing Club during the last year to resite a starting point. They first improved the mile and a half by providing a chute at the bottom of the home straight. This allowed a run of three furlongs to the first turn. The present work, unless interrupted by bad weather, is hoped to be finished early in the new season.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30398, 24 March 1964, Page 6
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340RACING Alteration To Sprint Barrier At Ellerslie Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30398, 24 March 1964, Page 6
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