First stand was built for £46

Press, 13 April 1982, Page 27

First stand was built for £46

At the first annual general meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club the committee was' instructed to proceed with the erection of a grandstand. at a cost to the club not exceeding £46.

A few years earlier local racing enthusiasts had been warned that bullock drays would not be admitted to the Riccarton racecourse.

Yesterday the Canterbury Jockey Club had ready for public inspection and use the product of its most ambitious and most expensive project in the interests of its course patrons at Riccarton — a redeveloped public stand at a cost of over $1 million.

With a 5390.000 loan from the New Zealand Racing Authority, the Canterbury Jockey Club was able to plan for redevelopment of the public grandstand at two floor levels.

Its new carpeted lounge, betting bar and restaurant areas represent a giant step from the austerities of the old complex. They are able to meet standards that will create a public demand for them for functions and community activities when not required for their primary purpose — to help make a day at the races a more

comfortable, enjoyable experience.

By retaining and freshening up a parquet floor, that was at one time a feature of the former stewards' dining room, the club believes it has an ideal area for dancing — dancing at organised functions, if not exuberant, spontaneous exhibitions in celebration of successful race day wagers. Riccarton's giant public grandstand, which was considered one of the best of its kind when built over 60 years ago. was also remarkable in a less admirable way for its great areas of unused space. However, giant concrete walls have been removed in the last few months to open up areas now being utilised for betting facilities, snack bars, and access ways to the seating on the race viewing bays of the stand. The Canterbury Jockey Club would have welcomed the introduction of the new on/off course betting system to coincide with the updating of its public stand. That is some way off yet, and might not be part of the Riccarton scene until the 1983 New Zealand Cup meeting. However, enough has already been done to make a

day's racing at Riccarton the more enjoyable: It is the Canterbury Jockey Club’s hope that the public response will be substantial and sustained. The club did not have the same response back in 1855 when it proposed to put up those forty six pounds towards the cost of a stand and asked the public to contribute the balance required. It was recorded later that

the total amount available was only £56/19/6 and the club postponed the project. A stone stand was completed in 1864 but by 1881 it had become inadequate and was demolished. A guarantee was given by members to the bank to erect a grandstand, which later became the People’s Stand, the public being admitted at one shilling. The new stand was used

for the first time at the Metropolitan meeting in 1881. It was a facsimile on a reduced scale of one at Randwick —144 ft long, 40ft in depth, with sitting accommodation for 600 and standing room for 400. By 1902 the club had four stands and had formed the island on which it placed the tea kiosk. A new stewards’ stand had been provided with

the weighing and jockeys' rooms in the basement. A new grandstand could seat 1500, and contained private boxes for members who paid for the privilege. The grandstand was destroyed by fire in the 1919720 season, and was replaced at a cost of £90,000 by the one that has been modernised in the last few months.