gazza123 51 Report post Posted May 23, 2016 do other courses have a grandstand like gore with a roof within a roof ,designed by a builder and no seating at wining post and faces into the westerly weather waikioutai used to have a monster two story steel one on the hill outa the straight ,don,t know if still there,know some courses like timaru their grandstands are 150mfrom track creating no atmosphere,any other building disasters thast are not built for the job Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Sunrise 554 Report post Posted May 23, 2016 Timaru and Ashburton are always lacking atmosphere. Can't think of any all weather track that is appealing which has a grass track around it. Grandstands at these places are pretty awful too. Oamaku an odd experience! Bizarre stand and terrible for viewing from ground level. Methven, Addington and Cambridge enjoyable but my favourites are Oamaru (grass) and Forbury (except the stand!) Must get down to the deep south one day. Would like to know which is the best track down there for viewing. Racing at Roxburgh always looks similar to Sarah Walker riding in a BMX race........must be great viewing in person. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazza123 51 Report post Posted May 23, 2016 on raceday Roxburgh has crowd front straight and back straight,great atmosphere,feild size needs to be restricted to 10 or track made 1200,unfortunately harness racing in southland suffers from that great green band that takes away raceday atmosphere,invercargill has great viewing from third story but you still feel as tho your inside looking out sorta surreal,oh for a setup similar to the now defunct gold coast where you were sitting right on top of horses,forbury good for day meetings but youll shiver ya bones at night Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jape 344 Report post Posted May 23, 2016 Yes. It was remarkable in so many ways. A small puff of smoke to begin with, then a gradual increase in smoke and f then fire. Almost in slow motion as I recall. No panic. People made their way down the stairs and went down to the rail. We (a few mates) helped a number of people over the fence on to the track. Then we turned around and watched it all burn down! Next race please. Quite remarkable. The Cup of '61 was won by ... Invicta. For some, that was almost as remarkable - and memorable! the shue25, Ashoka and Popcorn Player 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelseacol 2,488 Report post Posted May 24, 2016 The few blokes trying to put it out must be even greater optimists than most punters - look like they were using a garden hose from the water flow. Not sure I would've been standing there with the roof overhang !! Mind you I have seen stranger things at Addington than the stand burning down Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mt Smart Cats 15 Report post Posted May 24, 2016 Always enjoyed Ruakaka when they went to grass. It's a shame they are no longer a summer holiday racing venue. Was the best day of the year, certainly better than the week in week out concrete jungle at Alex Park. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC9 203 Report post Posted May 24, 2016 I remember a fire in the Alex Park stand about 30 years ago. Back of 'members stand'. Chip oil in the kitchen that was there I think. Bruce J Hadley 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
