IMPROVED ELLERSLIE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 224, 10 December 1927, Page 6

IMPROVED ELLERSLIE

TT will be readily admitted by those most intimately connected with tho racecourse at Ellerslie—by the course manager and the executive of the Auckland Racing Club—that the present racing track is by no means perfect, but if energy and enterprise can do anything, then in a few years A.R.C. headquarters should challenge comparison with any others of the Dominion’s splendid convincing grounds for turf contests. Evidence of comparatively recent improvements are seen in the formation of alleys so as to give a straight run out from the mile and live furlong posts, which has done much to popularise races started from these barriers. IMPROVING THE TURN The Auckland Racing Club some time ago launched out on an extensive and costly scheme of further improvements, no doubt one of the primary inducements being the necessity to provide a better turn into the straight, which at present is rather too acute.

Probably one other reason was that the mile start was too far back from tho course proper, and in consequence starts of! races werfe not visible to all on the stands. The mile barrier is one of the most important at Ellerslie, for among other events run from there are the valuable G.N. Guineas, Easter Handicap and other richly-endowed events. “CROSSING THE TOP” Apparently the proposed improvements were in the main hinged on the making of a wider sweep for the horses to come across the top and into the straight. Tho direct result of this work lias been to increase the circuit of the course to nine and a-half furlongs, or half a furlong more than at present. So that when this work is completed the mile post in the alley will be advanced to a spot near the old water jump (n w the brush fence), gong out of the straight. This will mean that starts there will be observed from all over the course. The most drastic change consequent upon these alterations, however, will be noticeable at the back of the course. It will mean the elimination of the new five-furlong barrier in the alley up the

hill, and although this is a spectacular starting point from the public’s point of view it is really bad in very wet weather, and, therefore, its abandonment will liavo its consolations. In future, or when the new course is completed, the five-furlong barrier will be situated just about where the “cutting” now is, or adjacent to the spot where steeplechase horses leave the course proper to ascend the hill. - A BIG BEND In the run out from the present new five-furlong barrier horses have one slight turn to negotiate in the run of two furlongs before they start to wheel for tho straight run home. In future they will not have such a good stretch, but they will be on the bend for most of tho way to the straight. Tho horses will be on a curve, for practically a full three furlongs, taking a wide sweep, so it will be not so

Additions to the Course EXTENSIVE ALTERATIONS THE extensive improvements at Ellerslie that have been in progress for several months are now well under way, and a small portion of the new course will be in use for the starting of the Great Northern Derby and Auckland Racing Club Handicap on Monday, January 2.

bad as it seems, for it provides fo.r a full two furlongs run up the home stretch, instead of a little under that distance at present. The big thing about this is that although it will probably not be an advantage in five furlong races, it will be a distinct improvement in the more important events run beyond five furlongs. Races of the latter course are confined to two-year-olds on A.R.C. programmes and mile and three-quarter hurdle races, and in the case of hurdle contests it does not matter a good deal. The improvements described here will take a long time to complete, but there are hopes that the whole of the new portion of the course will be available for racing in twelve months’ time. That is an optimistic calculation, however, for a lot depends on the weather. About one furlong has been already completed, that portion back from where the new formation joins up with the present course near the bottom of the straight. Here it is expected that

the Derby and Racing Club Handicap on New Year’s Day (this time on January 2), will be the first races despatched from this new barrier, which is practically alongside the present mile and a-half post. A COSTLY UNDERTAKING

For many months many men have been constantly employed in the undertaking, and it is by no means completed, although nearing an end. To obtain the desired ground along the hack for the big sweep that the course is to tak© it was necessary to cut away a considerable portion of the hill, over the top of which the steeplechase course runs.

Several thousands of yards have had to be taken away, and some of it has been used to build up the new portion at the furthermost part across the top, which in places has been raised 20ft. for about a furlong; this conveys an idea of the nature of the undertaking. The whole work will cost a lot, running into some thousands sterling, but it is money well spent. In the past, when the steeplechase horses came down off tho hill prior to coming to the second to last fence they went almost out of sight in the dip at

the foot. In future thatSvill be overcome, and the horses will be visible throughout the entire contest. The dip mentioned is being raised a few feet by the excavations from the hill previously referred to. The whole of the work in progress is being carried out under the supervision of the racecourse manager, Mr. Albert Hill, and under bis eyes the ground staff is doing excellent work. Tho Auckland Racing Club is to be congratulated in having an executive so much alive to the requirements of modern racing, for the money now being expended on the course will result in better racing all round, and therefore find increasing favour with local and visiting trainers, who like to see their charges racing under the best conditions. An idea of the extent of the improvements can be gauged by the accompanying pictures.