Ellerslie re-opening excites

Ellerslie bosses are approaching the long-awaited re-opening of our premier racetrack with no nerves but plenty of excitement.

After being closed for seven and a half months the home of Auckland racing is back in business on Saturday with the first meeting since the track had new drains installed around the entire circuit.

While the track was out of action the Auckland Racing Club also built a new stabling area which will provide the public with far greater access to the horses, with the total bill for both over $7 million.

While a new track surface can cause a few nerves, especially after Otaki’s disastrous comeback last Sunday, ARC boss Paul Wilcox says they are confident of a successful start to the summer.

“We couldn’t be happier with the track,” says Wilcox. “We have strictly followed the timeline we set out and we probably could have come back earlier but we stuck to our plan.

“And we have had some of the elite jockeys in New Zealand gallop horses over all areas of the track at speed and they were all happy. So we are confident it will provide a great racing surface and we are excited to be back. It has been a long time.”

The new stabling complex provides open air stalls for the horses and unlike the former dungeon of a

We are thrilled to be able to open it up to the public more and we encourage them to get down there and see the horses and take a selfie or two. ARC boss Paul Wilcox

stabling block will allow the public to get within 5 metres or so of the horses.

“The stabling area has come up incredibly well, even better than it looks in the plans,” says Wilcox.

“We are thrilled to be able to open it up to the public more and we encourage them to get down there and see the horses and take a selfie or two. But we also ask our customers to be respectful of the fact this is a working environment for the horses and their trainers and staff so by all means enjoy the horses but try and keep noise and fuss to a minimum.”

The comeback meeting is highlighted by the Partners Life Soliloquy Stakes, which brings together high class fillies Media Sensation, London Express and Secret Allure.

The meeting also sees a juvenile event, an open 1400m and a particularly strong Rating 82 while punters can stay on after the last to watch Winx’s historic bid for a fourth Cox Plate victory.