134 | Ashburton Raceway T T Rosa Watson A new era for Ashburton Raceway There are regular trial meetings’ and the raceway is used for a horse event on average once a week throughout the year. COMMUNITY Ashburton Raceway is undergoing new upgrades to its facilities that will make it the perfect space for corporate events and functions. The upstairs area is being renovated and kitted out to cater for conferences and functions, this will include audio and visual improvements and an upgrade to the kitchens so onsite self-catering will be possible. The new space will be known as the Greg Jones room in a nod to the galloping club’s ex-president who died in March 2023, general manager Jeff McLaughlin said. “He held the raceway together for many years. Just the best bloke you could ever meet. “It’s a nice way to honour him going forward.” The room will be opened up so guests will be able to view the racetrack and take in the spectacular view across the tracks to the mountains, Jeff said. New heat pumps have been installed, and the planned upgraded kitchens will offer self-catering facilities. Jeff said the raceway hoped to have the facilities ready to go for the Barnswood Farm Stakes race day gallops in early October, which are followed up closely by the Ashburton Flying Stakes held on October 28 - a major lead up to the New Zealand Trotting Cup. Once renovations are complete, they hope to find a niche with corporate functions and events with the capacity to cater for small groups and upwards to 60 to 100 people. Race day always take priority, Jeff said. “They get first preference. Functions will work around that.” There is also work taking place outside, with the public stand receiving a facelift including viewing platforms that will breathe new life into the stand on race day. “We have a very proactive board that oversees the Ashburton Raceway. There are numerous items on the wish list which we will work our way through. They understand we must have a presence in the community outside of race days. “They understand that diversity will see our facilities used more regularly and keep us ticking over, allowing us to reinvest and improve on what we have. “The key is to put the money back into the facilities so everyone can have a more enjoyable time when visiting Ashburton Raceway”. Things are busy at the raceway in the new season with the galloping club picking up two more race days this year to take their tally to 9 race days with the trotting club racing 10 times. There are also regular trial meetings’ and the raceway is used for a horse event on averProud to support Ashburton Raceway
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