LEVIN RACECOURSE.

Shannon News, 25 October 1927, Page 3

LEVIN RACECOURSE.

UP-TO-DATE APPOINTMENTS. A BEVIEW OF THE SEASON'S WORK. The improvements which have been carried out at the Levin Racecourse since the meeting of last year are such as to make it among the most up-to-date of country club's properties. Consequently when the annual race meeting is held on Saturday, November 19th, the • arrangements will be found to be eminently suitable both for the public and for "those taking an active part In the sport. A visit to the grounds by a Chronicle reporter, in coin, pany witli the club's secretary, Mr F. A. Nicholson, revealed that a transformation has been effected as the result of operations that have been conducted under the personal supervision of the president, Mr Thos. Bevan. One of the most noticeable changes has been the shifting of the judge's box in accordance with the latest system, which brings it back from its old position adjoining the track so that a clearer view of the home turn and the straight can be obtained. The boxhas now been erected in the southeastern corner of the stewards' stand, and thus it forms practically a continuation of the. balcony. . The. bird-cage has been considerably enlarged, and the old picket fence extending from the winning post to the end of the outside enclosure has been replaced by an iron and netting fence with totara posts. Between the public space and the show cattle : pens, which are used as horse boxes, a picket fence has lately been put up, which has a length of two and a-half chains and is provided Avith two gates, hung on substantial concrete posts. A fence has also been erected on the town side of the car paddock. A hot-water service has been installed, with pumice-lined coppers, and pipes are laid both to the public and' stewards'booths.

Another important enterprise was the building of seven new loose-boxes and two feed-rooms. With these additions the stables now contain 17 -loose-boxes, besides fqed-rooms, which were not previously provided. The dimensions of the loose-boxes are 10ft by 10ft; they are built on concrete foundations and equipped with strong double doors. The feed-rooms arc of similar construction, but with concrete instead of earthen floors.

From tiic racing point of view the main improvements are the two new straight starts that have been prepared, which will provide much better going for the fields and a more attractive outlook for the public. The first of these to be visited was the six-fur-long start, which has been constructed so as to begin from the west side at the back of the course. A suitably strong fence has been put in at the boundary, and from there the Worses will have a clear and straight run for two furlongs before reaching the eastern bend. This plan cuts out one turn, which was rendered awkward, owing to its proximity to the old startingplace, and :n future some fast times should be recorded for sprint events, as the course itself is in excellent condition; The other 1 , new start is from the eastern end into the straight, and it will be used for the mile and a-quar-tc'r racing, obviating.a crowd-, d corner in that locality. Sturdy picket fencing is also provided at the back of this start, and in both cases the ground Jias been very carefully prepare'd. The Levin Club has the privilege of possessing a particularly fast course, due to the skill used in laying it down. The padding is of sawdust, which makes for a springy track and gives good filterage, so that there is practically no fear of a soggy course after heavy rain. The spectators have everything in their favour as regards the vista, the colours of horses and jockeys being easily distinguishable against the solid background of the pine plantation.

The cost of all the improvements effected by the committee since the last race meeting amounts to about £SOO. This may seem a large sum to spend in one year for a single day's racing, but a close scrutiny of the work will show that full value has been obtained, and furthermore (t-Kc alterations are of a fairly permanent character and are thus a live asset to the club and a material reason for earnest considern* tion of Levin as a centre of sport it and when more racing days are allotted to country clubs. The facilities for the travelling public are now of flubest order. Few clubs have a course so conveniently placed in relation tt township and railway station, both o! which arc connected to the grounds a' no great distance by first-class motoring roads and asphalt footpaths. With special tiains from Pabnerston Xortli and Wellington, and excursion fares, added to the many conveniences so well devised, the arrangements for the forthcoming gathering should be about as complete as it is .possible to make them.