Early Christmas at Ascot Park Raceway
CHRISTMAS is coming early to Invercargill today and the annual Christmas at the Races meeting is expected to draw thousands of people.
The Southland Racing Club is expecting up to 6000 patrons to converge on Ascot Park Raceway and president Sean Bellew is as excited as a horse at the starting gate. ‘‘It’s Christmas Day for us. It’s more important than Christmas Day in some respects. The commercial operation is good for the city. It has an economic impact on the city.
‘‘The ramification is felt around the businesses. Every hairdresser in the city is booked between opening time and midday. I would say it runs hundreds of thousands of dollars through the city.’’
For the second year in a row the event will use electronic wristbands to make it easy for patrons to buy food and drinks.
Mr Bellew said he saw Invercargill being an industry leader by using the wristbands.
The event will also include an onsite afterparty for the first time and up to 1000 patrons are expected to stay back at ‘‘The Final Furlong’’ event.
Easing congestion at the end of the event as well as creating a staggered approach to patrons’ departure was the main idea behind the afterparty, Mr Bellew said.
An extended alcohol ban in the area surrounding the racecourse will also be enforced this year. The ban will be in place between 10am and 10pm, from the intersection of St Andrew St and Racecourse Rd to the entrance of the Ascot Park Hotel, and from Racecourse Rd to Derwent St, on Yarrow St.