Legalize won the last race on card at the Riccarton Turf Club's on-course only meeting in February 1983 paying $332 to win and $43 for a place, Quinella paid $3494. Not bad money in 83 when you could've bought a house and land for less than 50k.
On-course turnover for that meeting was $125,000.
From https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19830219.2.104.5 Legalize was the third highest dividend on-course, biggest winning dividend was Grand Boy's £383 ($860) in April 1952 followed by Meandering's £373 ($837) in August 1963
Of note, a pound each way on Meandering would've yielded more than the winning stake for the race !