Amberley at Rangiora, Cheviot at Addington??

[Ludwig]

Yesterday, amberley had their meeting down the road at Rangiora. Now that seems logical.

But every year, Cheviot go all the way in to Addington for theirs. I'm certain there's some logic behind it but I can't see it??

[Chief Stipe]

On 8/02/2022 at 1:43 PM, Ludwig said:

Yesterday, amberley had their meeting down the road at Rangiora. Now that seems logical.

But every year, Cheviot go all the way in to Addington for theirs. I'm certain there's some logic behind it but I can't see it??

Cheviot used to race at Rangiora.  Don't know the politics around it shifting.  Some history below:

Cheviot –

The Cheviot TC (HRC since 1987/88 season) held its inaugural meeting on 5 February 1927 taking over from the Cheviot Racing Club that had been in existence since its formation in 1894. Earlier races had been held on the Cheviot Domain course on Boxing Day 1890 and 1893 which included trotting events. Until 1926, the Cheviot RC had held meetings comprising both galloping and trotting races on the property owned by the Cheviot Domain Board (5/8ths mile track) used in association with the Agricultural and Pastoral Society until the outbreak of WWII in 1940 (Domain used by Army) – last meeting held on 18 March 1939. The 1923 meeting was held at the Canterbury JC’s Riccarton racecourse in Christchurch.

After holding a meeting on the North Canterbury JC’s course at Rangiora on 16 March 1940, a recess occurred during the war with meetings recommencing at Rangiora in 1946. The Cheviot TC was to remain at Rangiora until its final meeting on this course on 9 March 2003 although racing at New Brighton racecourse on 18 March 1961, Addington Raceway on 19 March 1983 and at Rangiora on 6 March 2011 (owing to Christchurch earthquakes). From the 7 March 2004 meeting, Cheviot, have conducted their annual meeting on a Sunday afternoon at Addington Raceway.

In 1946 an option was exercised for the purchase of a 100acre site at Spotswood, six miles from Cheviot. Significantly by 1960 when the Cheviot club had been unable to fully develop the Spotswood site due to building restrictions, apart from several seasons (1950 – 1965) when they combined with the Rangiora TC, Cheviot utilised an annual permit to continue racing at Rangiora. The land purchased at Spotswood (1200m grass track) had non-tote meetings from 1964 and matinee meetings from 19 October 1974 to 16 October 1982.

The Cheviot club introduced its feature event the Group Three Leonard Memorial for 2yo fillies at its 1968 meeting, now having passed its fiftieth anniversary.