Racecourse looks to ‘future-proof’
The Auckland Racing Club has announced a $6 million revamp of the Ellerslie racetrack’s stables.
Work began last week to demolish most of the existing indoor stable area and replace it with tie-up outdoor stalls for 126 horses alongside a warm-up ring, veterinary boxes and office, a function room and a trainers’ cafe.
The work is expected to be completed in time for November’s Melbourne Cup meeting.
Auckland Racing Club chief financial officer Tim Gillespie said the changes would mean visitors to the track would be able to see more of the horses when they aren’t racing.
He said the revamp was a way to ‘‘future-proof’’ Ellerslie as a thoroughbred racing venue, and the sport itself in New Zealand.
The track racecourse has operated since 1857, and is one of the oldest in the country. It has about 1000 members.
Gillespie said a second stage of refurbishment would also take place to install a drainage system beneath the field, which would create a more consistent surface.
The cost had not been finalised, but he estimated it would be about $600,000 to $700,000.
He said this could make the difference between raceday going ahead or being cancelled after rain. A cancelled race could cost the club up to $100,000 in revenue.
The Ellerslie racetrack had about 23 race days a year, including the Auckland Cup, known as the ‘‘richest race in New Zealand’’. Today the purse for the winner is $500,000. In 1955 the winner took home £12,500, the equivalent of about $647,128 today.
The indoor area would be 70 per cent demolished to make way for four separate buildings built around the central parade ring.
Club chief executive Paul Wilcox said the new stables would cement Ellerslie Racecourse as a world-class racing destination and put its facilities on par with the famous Australian courses of Flemington and Randwick.
‘‘The configuration of these open plan tie-up stalls will allow people to look at the horses both before and after racing, and gain a greater sense of the energy and passion that thoroughbred horse racing is all about – it’s how it’s done at some of the best racecourses in the world and it’s how it will be done at Ellerslie Racecourse.’’
In a nod to the past, the build will be finished in the same red brick currently seen in the 1930s administration building and the fac¸ ade of the original totaliser machine – designed by Sir George Julius in 1913 to keep a record of the total amount bet on each horse – will be restored to take centre stage.
The project was designed by Auckland architects Young & Richards and the construction contract has been awarded to Haydn and Rollett.
‘‘Our partners have an excellent track record when it comes to designing and building multi-use facilities and, whilst this is the first new build of racing facilities in New Zealand for a long time, the ethos and design principles they have contributed will ensure it will be top class and support the club for many years to come,’’ Gillespie said.