WOOD GATES PURCHASE

Press, Volume C, Issue 29506, 6 May 1961, Page 4

WOOD GATES PURCHASE

Four Clubs Combine

The latest style of Wood starting gates will be purchased and operated by. a group of four racing clubs in Mid and South Canterbury. It was expected that the cost of the gates and the necessary equipment will be about £3500, the secretary of the Ashburton County Racing Club (Mr J. B. Nicoll) said yesterday. The other three clubs in the group are the Geraldine Racing Club, the South Canterbury Jockey Club and the South Canterbury Hunt Club To be stored and maintained in Ashburton, the gates will be transported to meetings of the other clubs in the group on a special trailer which will be made locally, Mr Nicoll said. “The gates are manufactured in Wellington, and it is hoped they will be available for the Ashburton winter meeting on June 24,” he said. “These gates are similar to the new Wood gates which will be in operation for the first time at the Auckland Racing Club’s meeting at Queen’s Birthday week-end,” Mr Nicoll said. . During die year, the clubs held 11 racing days, and the cost was apportioned on a pro rata basis calculated on the number of days’ racing at each club. will be a vast im-

provement over the old rail stalls at present being used by the clubs in the group,” he said. Several North Canterbury Clubs had also formed into a group to purchase similar gates tor meeting in their area.