BLAST FROM THE PAST
NEW STABLING COMPLEX - Plans
The NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club has received word from the NZ Racing Board approving funds for a new stabling area at Addington Raceway. This was received by the club's Chief Executive Officer, Mike Godber, on Monday.
The L-shaped complex will run along the front of the Twiggers Stand as far as the old Showgrounds boundary, and the right towards Lincoln Road. It means the Lindauer Lawn will be raised, the Pavillion removed and rebuilt once the stabling area has been constructed.
Godber said the work would not start until after the NZ Cup meeting in November. "But there is a lot of work that will happen between now and then, starting with resouce consents, permits, tenders and much else," he said.
Godber said the Club had been assisted with their planning by licenceholders Anthony Butt and Dave Anderson, and it would have room for 160 horses. "It is 5000 square metres, so it is a huge building," said Godber. The front section, in front of the stand, will cater for 70 horses, and there will be 70 in the Showgrounds wing. Provision has been made for the greyhound kennels on the Showgrounds bend. There will be a 1.2 metre walkway between the track and the front of the stand stabling area. As well as a swabbing area and washes, there is a 'secure' area for 15 horses.
The Lindauer lawn will not have grass as it has at present. That has to go, but exactly what will take its place is uncertain. "It could be artificial grass, or it could be a coloured rubber surface. That's something we will have to face later," he said.
The float park will shift to an area close to the stables, somewhere between the back of the Twiggers Stand and the Raceway offices. For the Cup Meeting, where parking is sold in that area, the floats will be quartered in the showgrounds.
Credit: Mike Grainger writing in HRWeekly 27Jun07
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