Sport and Beauty, Hand in Hand Ellerslie and Its History

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 678, 1 June 1929, Page 1 (Supplement)

Sport and Beauty, Hand in Hand Ellerslie and Its History

M one side, ,in 'jUlllgpjj sly van setting, a i [flfißiV I] iutt> a crystal ball- - j3| down, necks 1 straining, the jockeys peering towards the goal. The crowd yells madly, and the name of the favourite, seems likely to crack the heavens. That is Ellerslie racecourse—a place of contrasts, a place of colour and swarming life one day and another, a green garden, beautiful as summer itself. It is this charm of Ellerslie that makes overseas visitors to Auckland claim that in the wide world there is no racecourse to equal it alike in beauty of surroundings and efficiency of appointments. Ellerslie is the Palladium of racing and a garden for the people. Vo wonder Aucklanders look upon it with pride; and no wonder that, daily, there is a stream of visitors. It is safe to assume that Aucklanders know full well that Ellerslie is an

acquisition to the city. But do they realise that this place of beauty has grown from the paddocks of 60 years ago? •

Away back in the early sixties was the genesis of Auckland racing. The sport became firmly established from the outset, with several regiments of the British Army stationed in the port. It was not, however, until 1874 that any corporate control of the sport came Into being in the city. This arose from the combination of the two existing clubs—the Auckland Jockey Club and the Auckland Turf Club, which were continually bickering—into the Auckland Racing Club. The inception of the club was a proof of that trite saying that unity is strength,

for from that day the sport of racing has never looked back in the province.

The first step taken by the committee of the newly-formed organisation was to purchase some 90 acres of ! and at Ellerslie from the late Mr. Robert Graham for the sum of £3OOO. This was the course of yesteryear. But how it has grown through the decades! Today the area of the club's holdings is 174 acres, bought at various times at considerable expense. Now

j the course is bounded on all sides, j except for one small portion, by public j roads. The first meeting under the auspices | of the club was held in the autumn of | 1874 > and the stakes for the 10 events | on the programme amounted to £790! j Today, for each of two races the i Auckland Cup and the Derby, the richj est races in the Dominion—£3ooo is the prize-money. I.ast year the clul

paid out in stakes alone £61,000. The number of races on tlie Auckland annual programme carrying £IOOO or over in stakes is 16. With the development in the payment of prize-money there has been corresponding progress in the course

(Written (or THE SU itself. The accommodation for the public has been increased every few years, until today there is an imposing array of stands and ample lawn space for any number of people. Although on Boxing Day as many as 45,000 people have attended at Ellerslie, the accommodation at the course has never yet been fully taxed, which is a tribute to the foresight of those in control of

the club. The Leger enclosure was | begun in 1919, and contains a concrete stand to seat about 8,000 people, erected at a cost of £60,000. At the back of the Leger stand is one of the finest collections of native shrubbery in the Dominion, unexcelled in variety.

y by H. J. FLEMING) | In 1926, the handsome tea kiosk was built, seating 300 people, and equipped | with every convenience for the course I patrons. Not only is the kiosk open | on race days, but every day through | the year. Thousands take advantage i of it on their visits to the grounds. J Ellerslie in spring or in summer is a subject fit for a poet's fancy. There is an air of graciousuess about it that

takes off the rather hard modernity and utilitarian appearance of the towering stands.

On week days, small children play about the lawns, while their parents enjoy the sunny walks. Always there is a crowd about my lady of the silver globe. The glass-houses, too, are always a magnet. The club has developed these well. The latest step has been the erection of a hot-house for the propagation of orchids, of which the club has a magnificent collection.

Although heavily taxed and rated, Ellerslie provides the local bodies in its district with a fine park, free to the public. It supplies, too, schools and public institutions with material from its horticultural stock, spreading the cult of beauty.

And who was responsible for the. . | course’s charm? The father of racing d —the Hon. Sir Edwin , Mitcbelson, M.D.C., for 25 years conl ! tinuously president of the club, and | At Right.—EYES ON THE CUP. — ! The Auckland Cup Day scene at Ellerslie is always an animated one, with ; the glory of stimmer flowers rivalled , by the colours of the women's dresses. The scene on the laivns in front of the stands.

holder of the presidency for different terms before then.

Sir Edwin has played a magnificem part in the development of racing ii Auckland, and Ellerslie stands as his memorial. He was responsible for th* lay-out of the course, and his know ledge of botany has been of consider able help to the authorities. He is e lover of native trees, but English trees have been grown on the lawn behinc the stand. Native trees, being ever green, prevent the sun from getting to the turf and hamper the soil. The English trees are deciduous, and the falling of their leaves enables the winter sun to nourish the turf aboul them. So far we have discussed artistic and accommodation improvements The Auckland Club has not laggec behind in the development of the racing side. Since 1919 the course itself has been greatly improved, rise! and dips in the track having beet

flattened out. Stake-money has been increased almost yearly, so that the Auckland Club is the biggest prizegiver in New Zealand. Excellent training facilities have been provided in the way of sand, grass, and tan tracks, hurdle and steeple tracks, and a special track for two-year-olds. Financially the club is now recognised as one of the wealthiest in the Southern Hemisphere. This was not

so 30 years ago and before that, when more than once the committee found that affairs were not at all bright. For the past 25 years, however, the finances have gone from strength to strength, and improvements have been made correspondingly. The club has always been reasonable in its admission charges, and, considering the facilities and the entertainment offered, these compare favourably with those in any part of New Zealand. With its secretaries the Auckland Club has been well served. For about 30 years Mr. William Percival, who

took over shortly after the start of the club, directed affairs. Then followed the late Mr. J. F. Hartland, who was secretary from 1905 to 1918. Since 1918. Mr. W. S. Spence has be,>u the man in control, and he has carried out a big task with credit. The Racing Club is one of the biggest businesses in Auckland. It has a i o revenue and a large expenditure 'otalisator receipts alone an>' .. to about £1,000,000 a year, givir Government an easy and profitable means of taxation, and the wage-bill to the outside staff has amounted to £15,000. The club carries out nearly all of its improvements itself, having, in addition to clerical and racing staff, carpenters, bricklayers, carters, labourers, electricians, and gardeners in its permanent employ. Government taxation for the club amounted to £90,000 for 11 days’ racing at Ellerslie. An employer of labour, a supplier of sport, and provider of a beautiful pleasance for the public, the Auckland Racing Club plays an important part in the lives of Aucklanders.