Two tracks for racecourse

Press, 14 May 1982, Page 8

Two tracks for racecourse

In nine months, the Asburton racecourse has been transformed in one sense and split in Another as members of both the Racing and Trotting Clubs produced . the money, manpower and machinery to make the changes. The Ashburton Trotting Club now has a 1430-metre, all-weather track which drivers are already describing as rivalling the best in . New Zealand. And the Ashburton County Racing Club has its own grass track, with a re-aligned straight which has been pushed several metres towards the grandstand, and which will be used for spectators at trotting meetings. It has all been made possible through the traditional generosity of Ashburton supporters of both sports and through their willingness to keep costs down by attendance at working bees which have continued almost ' throughout the nine months. < Few even remotely associ- , ated with the project would i not be impressed by the i effort shown by members led i by Bob Davidson, Gavin 1 Marshall, Ted McKenzie and ! others who attended most, if . I not all, the working bees. Both clubs recognised the ] need to have their own rac- < ing surfaces. If either club f contemplated an increase in z the number of racing days, f the grass track could not i cope. Since six days involved v winter dates, it was obvious t that any more permits would over-tax capacity of one r grass track. v While discussing the new a public grandstand and lounge a with the Racing Authority, E the clubs raised the issue of n an all-weather track but it a was felt it would be too great a financial hurdle, fi However, the authority did 0 suggest ways it might finally t( be achieved, such as moving ti the grass track closer to the hi stands. 01

aiciiiud. The new stand was made possible through the trotting club providing $llO,OOO and raising a loan for the same amount. Both amounts were to be repaid under the joint amenities account, the interest met by the trotting club and furnishing met by both. That stand opened five years ago and it has proved immensely popular whether by patrons or hirers using the amenities. But 1977 was very wet and the trots had to transfer to Addington Raceway for the October meeting after the gallopers ploughed through centimetres of water in the straight a month before. In October, 1980, the Trotting Club engaged the former

county engineer (Mr Don Thomson) to draw up plans and costs for an all-weather track. A joint committee representing both clubs was formed with Mr Bob Davidson as its chairman, a choice which proved an inspired one, for he spent as much time as any one, and probably more, on working bees over the months. . By December, 1980, costs , and plans went to the Racing Authority members who visited Ashburton early last year. The major cause for concern was that the clubs, with their commitment to the stand, could not contribute significantly to its cost. The membership of both was asked to help with the aim to raise $75,000 for 10 years at 5 per cent for debenture holders. In the first two weeks, $52,000 came in, and within a month the total was $63,000. By May the clubs asked the authority for a 50 per cent subsidy but interest charges for the stand still had to be met. To close the gap in financing, the clubs organised an auction of stallion services and raised $40,500, which put the seal on the whole scheme. The authority agreed to participate and two days after the September meeting ended for gallopers last year, a working bee moved in and posts, railings and other' items standing in the way were removed. Dismantling the course took only one day. Burnett Motors, Ltd, moved in three days later with the challenge of having a new grass track, with a realigned straight, ready for Boxing Day. The firm had to move 6632 cu m of soil to allow for the re-alignment. The trotting club helped further by transferring its October meeting to Addingion probably for the last lime. The contractor used all lis resources and very favorable weather allowed for

uuxauic wuauiui auuwcu jui good progress until the straight was ready for sowing on September 30. It rained — heavily — and the drilling had to be done again. Meanwhile, club members faced the mammoth task of scraping and painting 1000 posts and rails. Mr Davidson said last week, "It was the great effort of the volunteer work force which enabled this to be completed in time for the course to be used on Boxing Day.” The use of water and nitrogen helped produce one of the best grass tracks the clubs have raced on. as times on that day proved. A contract for stage two, formation of the all-weather track, was let at the end of December to Mr M. Deuart

who started about a month later. About 11,990 cu m of spoil was shifted to help formation and it was carried out by ■ two carry-alls with graders doing the spreading. Just after that, a gallops meeting drew complaints about a pressure point on the turn into the new straight. A day after the meeting finished, posts were extracted and replaced to provide a new turn without the pressure point. The final application of clay and soil was done by McCormick Transport by April 23, and Burnett Motors returned to finish applying crusher dust a day later. By that time, the exacting job of driving 620 posts for the hub rail and fitting the dirt board had been done and volunteers did the job in about six days. “May, 1982, brings us around the bend and into the straight but there is still much to be done before we reach the finish line." Mr Davidson said. “Four new patrol boxes about six metres above ground level require scaffolding to be built, and the erection of the boxes by crane. "We had to fence the outside of the all-weather track and the inside of the grass training tracks, while truck and trailer units have to be furnished with spray equipment lor the dust problems, photo finish mirrors have to be installed and one truck unit housed,” he said. The new sawdust, crusher dust, training track for gallopers had been in use for three weeks and the allweather track was being

used for 'all training. All comments had been favourable, he said although several trainers have been more generous in their praise.

Mr Davidson said he did not know where to start in thanking people. Volunteers who attended working bees, some of whom painted posts twice before erecting them, the owners of trucks who carted thousands of cubic yards of clay from a creek improvement scheme, those who carted stones for sump holes, owners of front end loaders, post drivers and hole borers — they were all available virtually on request. “But we cannot forget the members and supporters who provided the $75,000. Without that, nothing could ever have been started," he said. "In early 1981, the scheme was estimated al- $150,000 and we still hope to be somewhere near that amount. We had something like 8000 man hours of voluntary labour worth at least $40,000.

“The loan of machinery would add another $15,000 which was given. It has been a wonderful effort by all concerned and the end result will be a complex to be very proud of. In the last five years, $500,000 has been spent on our raceway,” Mr Davidson said, and all loan finance was to be paid off in nine years from July 1. Mr Davidson paid tribute to the .eight-person joint committee throughout the development programme and said it had been a pleasure to work with them.