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Lucky old me, I’m on a month’s holiday in Auckland at the moment, getting to see my first grandchild…but also…to have the opportunity to experience a day’s racing, Kiwi style.
Yesterday (Saturday), I went to Ellerslie races, just a few miles from where I’m staying, for one of their two ‘summer racedays’.
These are a bit more laid-back then their usual meetings, especially compared to the big Boxing day affair. Admission to the grandstand was free (normally 10 nz dollars, just over 2$ to the pound sterling), upgrade to members $10 if suitably attired (collared shirt, proper trousers no jeans, no thongs). I was not so attired, and experienced the grandstand enclosure only. The track itself is a 1900 metre RH affair, somewhat like a miniature Sandown Park.
The $3 race card contained details for all 12 (! I stayed for 10)races plus another meeting, and gave form for each horse’s last 3 runs/trials, plus extras like what sort of bridle they were wearing, any special plates as well as the usual stuff about blinkers, cheekpieces etc. You certainly couldn’t use a lack of information as an excuse for missing a winner. Good value for money, and the racecard wasn’t the size of a telephone directory.
Anyway, about the day’s racing and the differences that struck me.
Well, the first thing was the absence of bookmakers, which didn’t bother me in the slightest. It didn’t detract from the atmosphere of the day. One definite plus was you didn’t have to expend lots of energy rushing up and down the lines trying to get 5/1 about that 9/2 shot, a real chore when it’s 29C.
The facilities were first rate, seating in the stand for all, umpteen tote outlets, and you could get food at reasonable prices, for example, a decent portion of chips was $3.50. Escalators to all levels, though the boxes weren’t in use yesterday.
Of the racing itself, the card was biased towards speed, with 3 races over 2100m, the rest at 1600 down to 1100. There were around 12 runners a race, on average. For the 2100m races, they were all run in the same manner, with a slightly frantic first few furlongs followed by a distinct slowing down, then a mad rush towards the 400m straight. The sprints were all truly run. The going was definitely on the firm side incidentally although they called it good as I recall.
Between races at Ellerslie, the big screen showed racing from the other meeting(s), with accompanying commentary and chat. Not too sure about that, a bit too much for my taste.
One thing which impressed me, and I mentioned this in Silvoir’s thread about suggestions for improving the race-day experience for his RFC committee, was the way you could see ALL the horses in the parade ring for several minutes before mounting. In the racecard, for every race, there were designated times by the horses had to be in the paddock. For instance, looking at the details for race 3, due off at 1.32pm, I see "Weighed out by 1.05pm", "In Parade Ring by 1.17pm" and "Leave Parade Ring by 1.22pm. This was strictly adhered to, the horses exiting the parade ring in file, and at the same time, with the result that the programme ran to time.
Just to finish off my ramblings, I don’t recollect seeing a single trilby hat during the course of the afternoon, and yes, I had a losing day, though not by too much.
Interesting stuff, thanks for sharing. Remember not to go in your thong next time though!
I read that Icepin (winner yesterday at Ellerslie) is going for the Karaka Million at the end of the month. Where do they get all this prizemoney? Is it a Sales Race, or is it the absence of bookmakers? (New to all this Australasian stuff.)
Yes, it’s a sales race, with a total prize fund of $1million.
The prize money on offer at Ellerslie on Saturday amounted to $140k (around 65k sterling), but this was one of Ellerslie’s lesser meetings.
The Marton JC also had a meeting on Saturday where there was a Listed race, and there the day’s prize money was $290k (about 140k sterling).
Of course, the funding system in NZ is vastly more sensible than in the UK, but where isn’t (apart from Ireland)?
Admission to the grandstand was free The track itself is a 1900 metre RH affair, somewhat like a miniature Sandown Park.
The $3 race card contained details for all 12 (! I stayed for 10)races plus another meeting.
Well, the first thing was the absence of bookmakers, which didn’t bother me in the slightest. It didn’t detract from the atmosphere of the day.
You’re in Dortmund!!!!
a real chore when it’s 29C.
You’re not in Dortmund!!!!
Joking apart though, it sounds great, and I really like the way the punter/racegoer is so well informed. It sounds to me like the organization is first class, and looking at their website (http://www.ellerslie.co.nz), the whole thing has a real, laid back family atmosphere. Sounds a darn sight better than a wet Wednesday at Wolverhampton!!
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