Community spirit, hard work resurrects course

The rebuilt Waimate racecourse facilities are ready for a trotting meeting on March 25, the first to be held there in four and a-half years. Photo: Supplied
The rebuilt Waimate racecourse facilities are ready for a trotting meeting on March 25, the first to be held there in four and a-half years. Photo: Supplied
A former school classroom has been used to form part of the administration block. Photo: Anna Miles
A former school classroom has been used to form part of the administration block. Photo: Anna Miles

An undeniable community spirit and Kiwi ingenuity have combined to get race meetings back at Waimate racecourse again.

The trotting meeting to be held on March 25 will be the first at the Waimate course in four and a-half years.

Racing came to a thundering halt in Waimate when 100kmh-plus winds tore through and flattened the club's grandstands in September, 2013.

The return of racing to the South Canterbury town flies in the face of calls from some in the racing industry who want smaller country tracks to be closed and venues rationalised.

The Waimate racecourse committee and its two host racing clubs were not having any of that argument. Instead they went straight back to work to rebuild their facilities.

It was not an easy or quick process to get the final sign-off to return racing to Waimate but with a determined effort they got there in the end, Waimate Trotting Club president Lex Williams said.

''An incredible amount community spirit that has gone into getting the racecourse going again.

''There has been a huge amount of donated time and machinery and things like that

Bob Goodeve, the chairman of the Waimate Racecourse Trust, was one example of the many people who have gone above and beyond to help to re-establish the racecourse.

Goodeve's contracting business cleaned up the damaged buildings and did not charge anyone for it, Williams said.

''He would have given $40,000 worth of contracting work - he pulled everything down for nothing.''

After insurance claims were settled a rebuild was needed and it was completed with Kiwi ingenuity.

The administration buildings are made up from two former two classrooms that have been transported to the course and tacked together.

The commentator's tower is made up of three shipping containers that have been stacked on top of each other.

The community spirit that rebuilt the racecourse's facilities will be on show at this month's Waimate trots.

The club is hosting a community sports day that will run in conjunction with the meeting.

Local pupils will compete in running races on the course between trotting races.

The meeting will also mark a milestone in the career of one of the South Island's most popular horses.

Sarah Palin, a trotter with cult-hero status, is to have her last race start at the meeting.

Such is the interest in her the club was in talks with producers of a 7pm current affairs television programme who want to film the event.

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