RACING Improved Facilities For C.J.C. Members

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30873, 6 October 1965, Page 4

RACING Improved Facilities For C.J.C. Members

Betting facilities in the members’ stand at Riccarton are to be improved.

The committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club decided yesterday to extend betting facilities on the mezzanine and ground floors by approximately 20ft over the greater part of the length of the stand.

The club says that the extra space that will be made available on both floors will eliminate congestion experienced on major race days at Riccarton. Race filming will be introduced to Riccarton at the New Zealand Cup meeting. Races at the three-day carnival in November will be partly filmed by Mr D. J. McNair, who is in charge of that work at Hawke’s Bay meetings. Mr McNair was recently consulted by a sub-committee of the club, and will return to Riccarton soon to observe

progress in preparations for the Cup meeting.

The camera will be installed in the members’ stand. It will be able to film the last half mile of each race and it will be particularly effective from the home turn. A dark room is being constructed adjacent to the room used to hear race inquiries in the stewards’ stand. If the club is satisfied with the results at the New Zealand Cup meeting it will probably make an early move to construct a high tower on the course to provide the ideal situation for the camera. Races on major courses in the North Island are filmed from high towers.