Championship Race day Ellerslie March 7th

[Murray Fish]

Tickets start at $35 pre buying,  $65 if you pay on the day!  <--- ouch!

Personally,  I had more bets on this day last year than on any other day of the year!!

So hoping that a true track is found on the day! 

Anyone going to be  on course?

[Murray Fish]

General Admission

$35pp first release | $65pp on the day | Under 15s free | Senior citizen rates apply at the gate on the day (50% off the advertised ‘on the day’ price). 

At what number of punters would it take for them to put up the HOUSE FULL sign?

[Murray Fish]

Based on historical records, the largest crowd ever recorded at the Ellerslie racecourse appears to be **45,000 people**, who attended the Auckland Cup race on Boxing Day in 1944 .

For a clearer picture, here is a summary of some of the biggest crowds at Ellerslie across different eras:

| Date | Event | Attendance | Notes |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Boxing Day 1944** | Auckland Cup | **45,000** | This is the highest number found in the search results, cited as a record at the time . |
| **c. 1911** | Boxing Day Races | 30,000 - 35,000 | A large crowd for the early 20th century, considered a record at the time . |
| **June 1945** | Winter Meeting | 39,000 | Described as a record for a winter meeting in New Zealand . |
| **December 2020** | SkyCity Boxing Day Races | 14,000+ | Called a "modern-day record" and the biggest crowd in almost 12 years . |

It is important to note that while the 45,000 figure from 1944 is the highest found, it is very likely a record for the course's long history. Modern-day crowds, while still very large, are often not directly comparable to these historical peaks due to different event structures, seating capacities, and entertainment options. For example, one article noted that close to 25,000 were expected for a recent Boxing Day event, described as the largest in 155 years at that time .

[mikeynz]

1 hour ago, Murray Fish said:

General Admission

$35pp first release | $65pp on the day | Under 15s free | Senior citizen rates apply at the gate on the day (50% off the advertised ‘on the day’ price). 

At what number of punters would it take for them to put up the HOUSE FULL sign?

They actually declare it,  the racecourse a sellout if all the hospitality tents / tables are sold, for the size of the place (Auckland) they get fuck all, our old friend TAB didn't understand that like a lot of things, anyway I note senior citizens get a discount, I assume Mr Fish that includes you so 30 bucks ain't that bad to see some good racing.

I often laugh when you see hairdressing shops offering discounts for seniors getting hair cuts, seems logical as most don't have much if any hair left lol.

Edited Monday at 10:24 PM by mikeynz

[curious]

2 hours ago, Murray Fish said:

Tickets start at $35 pre buying,  $65 if you pay on the day!  <--- ouch!

Personally,  I had more bets on this day last year than on any other day of the year!!

So hoping that a true track is found on the day! 

Anyone going to be  on course?

Aren't you going for the POTY comp?

[The Centaur]

Ellerslie just don't get it. Given the investment in infrastructure the overall attendance is pathetic. Thats not surprising as for many years racegoers were treated as second class citizens being divided into pens like cattle. e.g. Members, non members, owners, public and e.g. particularly noticeable when looking at Te Rapa grandstand seating.

Ellerslie has maintained that division. Now they even classify their members e,g, the carpark has specially written up spots for  premier members, goldstar members, "ordinary" members. For f*** sake its just a carpark used by those members for a handful of hours during the year.

[Chief Stipe]

1 hour ago, The Centaur said:

racegoers were treated as second class citizens being divided into pens like cattle. e.g. Members, non members, owners, public

Every Club did that   I had to own a horse to get to the trough.

[billy connolly]

The half owner of 1977 Auckland cup winner (Royal Cadenza) was refused entry to birdcage presentation as he was deemed not suitably attired... in shorts and jandals.

[Thomass]

Blessed is the moderator...indeed all moderators are blessed for they shall inherit the earth

RIP Stu Dromgool

An iconic Cambridge character who always had a roll your own hanging out the side of the mouth but could train

Olde school, built out of the same cloth/era as Bob McCosh, the legendary Matamata trainer who refused a drink in the President's room after winning the Great Northern with Bob's Luck...probably felt embarrassed having a hole in his hat

[hesi]

19 hours ago, The Centaur said:

Ellerslie just don't get it. Given the investment in infrastructure the overall attendance is pathetic. Thats not surprising as for many years racegoers were treated as second class citizens being divided into pens like cattle. e.g. Members, non members, owners, public and e.g. particularly noticeable when looking at Te Rapa grandstand seating.

Ellerslie has maintained that division. Now they even classify their members e,g, the carpark has specially written up spots for  premier members, goldstar members, "ordinary" members. For f*** sake its just a carpark used by those members for a handful of hours during the year.

They also do not cater for what you could call your 'average' racing enthusiast, or those just looking for a 'country style' day at the races.  Long gone are the wonderful days of picnics, boot parties and limited BYO, when the infield had thousands of such people.  I would class myself as racing enthusiast but will never go back to Ellerslie.  Word gets around, when a venue has some momentum going and it attracts people as the place to be.  Ellerslie has unfortunately lost that, and with it many other associated flow on affects.  An enjoyable picnic style day at the races will arouse the interest of a certain percentage in going again and potentially becoming involved.

[Chief Stipe]

7 minutes ago, hesi said:

They also do not cater for what you could call your 'average' racing enthusiast, or those just looking for a 'country style' day at the races. 

They do at their Pukekohe venue.

8 minutes ago, hesi said:

Long gone are the wonderful days of picnics, boot parties and limited BYO, when the infield had thousands of such people.  I would class myself as racing enthusiast but will never go back to Ellerslie.

Licensing laws and the cost of security/compliance killed the boot party.  If you will NEVER go back to Ellerslie then I wouldn't class you as a racing enthusiast.  Have you been there since the upgrades?  A wide range of options are available for the public and like most businesses the market differentiate their racedays.

11 minutes ago, hesi said:

Word gets around, when a venue has some momentum going and it attracts people as the place to be.  Ellerslie has unfortunately lost that, and with it many other associated flow on affects.

That is exactly what their sell out days are doing.  

12 minutes ago, hesi said:

An enjoyable picnic style day at the races will arouse the interest of a certain percentage in going again and potentially becoming involved.

Is there any evidence of that actually happening?  Regardless Ellerslie have at least two family oriented days during the season.  For example The Summer at the Races Day on 31 January.  https://www.aucklandracing.co.nz/racedays/summer-raceday/  General Admission is Free and you can take a picnic.

[Thomass]

The days of in field 'picnics' are over that's for sure

It's like the 'idiot' who decided to name the "Souff and Norf Islands"  North and South Islands

...decided to insert the black tar sealed car park directly behind the winning post...in field picnics on black tar seal??  na thanks

Imagine if Royal Ascot decided to do the same?  King Charles and Camilla wouldn't tolerate it

and nor should we

 

[Bid]

On 2/17/2026 at 9:09 AM, Murray Fish said:

 

Anyone going to be  on course?

I might head along for a look. 

[Murray Fish]

1 hour ago, Bid said:

I might head along for a look. 

Enjoy!   if some racing excitement can not be found on this day then....

I had my best day of course at Wingatui the other day! FUN DAY and it really was..  must have 500 kids running around  They sort of took over most of the public space and there were squeals of delight to be heard all day!  All the Free stuff went down well!!  I spoke to the young fella working the Icecream Truck, he had a steady line of 10m all day!!  I suggest he pay himself a bonus! "good idea he said"

Re Championship day!   am hoping that the add the 3rd Trackside Chanel and we Actually get to see a decent amount of the horses before and atter each!  As a punter! I keen to improve on  the 5 bets for 5 2nds from last year! saved slightly by two of the bets were to run 1/2    I shouted Mrs a 20 win bet in the big race and on looks she picked the winner ON Looks!