THE PARK RACECOURSE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2411, 28 January 1909, Page 6

THE PARK RACECOURSE.

EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS

Patrons of the Park .racecourse will see great changes and extensive improvements in the accommodation for the public at H,lxe Gisborne Ivacing Club’s .summer meeting, which takes place on Thursday find Friday, February 4th and stli. The main feature of tho scheme that has 'been carried out is that tho two divisions for tho public arc now reversed, and instead of the “outside” public occupying the (block facing Childers Pond, that piece of land h'.is been turned into a saddling paddock, and the na shilling patrons of horse racing will he accommodated on the Makaraka side of the main grandstand. The committee of the club has spent £2200 in making tho .improvements, •and a. total sum of £4500 for the year. A new grandstand, 60ft in length, with seating accommodation for 600 persons, has been erected. This stand faces tho straight, end affords a splendid view of'the course, and enables patrons to see the horses side on from tho turn into the straight until the finishing post >s reached. The stand is very high and comfortable, and tho club will make no charge for its use. The old .loose boxes at the rear of this stand vwj'll ho removed and put to other use by the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, tenants of the club. Gonsoquent upon this change in the division of the public, the totalisator house has been 'removed from the Gisborne side of the .grandstand to > the Makaraka side, and can therefore be used by the patrons of the j lawn or the'outside public. The ! course itself has also been improved , by taking the incline in the align- ■ ment of the fence away, and making : a straight course on the outside from j the sod wall for steeplechasers. This ’ will do away with the need for riders ■ to’steer their mounts to take that jump at an angle. Then the club has improved the general equipment of tho course. New numbers have been obtained for tho judge’s box, .and after the finish of a race the numbers of the winning horses will be displayed from tho top of 'the judge's box,-whore they can.be easily seen from all parts of tho course. The numbers of the horses starting j in a- race will be shown oh a stand . on the flat by numbers me asm’- : ing Bin by 10in; so tli that, there will

be no need for the .public to stand around, in a small area to see the .'(watchings, as the stand will be visible from all parts of the course. The club has attended to the details of the extra accommodation with every care. For the outside public a large dining room and kitchen have been built under the grandstand, and every comfort provided for patrons. The old latrines have 'been removed and new ones erected in convenient places. For trainers’ charges thirty now loose-boxes have been built on that part of the course formerly given over to the general public and close to Childers (Road. The club has also erected a handsome building for the accommodation of the officials, reporters, and jockeys. This buildtrrg'ds provided with a balcony, from which the. whole course is visible, and every room and office has been comfortably furnished. The jockeys’ room has been fitted with lockers, and is close to the' weighingout room, which in turn connects with the’ secretary’s office. Under the main .grandstand a well-furnished retiring room lias been set apart for the use of ladies, and the club has reason to be proud of the improvements carried out.

The committee propose at un early date to further beautify the course by the construction of two small lakes, tea houses, and other ornamental structures.

The members’ carriage paddock has been changed to that piece of ground at the rear of the main grandstand, and both the public and members of the club iwill find the Park racecourse one of the best appointed provincial racecourses in. the Dominion.