Auckland Racing Club Steriline Starting Stalls
Tuesday 4 April - Starting Gate Trial Successful.

The Auckland Racing Club recently announced the Club had completed the purchase of a set of Steriline starting gates from Australia. In line with safety standards and best practice the Club completed the final trial of the gates with organised “jump-outs” at Ellerslie yesterday.

Thirty eight horses took the opportunity to “jump out” of the gates during the six heats that took place. Northern Raceday Services gate staff were present to load the horses and raceday starter, Trevor Harrison, also took the opportunity to familiarise himself with the state of the art machinery. Also present at the jump-outs was New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Stipendiary Steward, Alan Coles.

The gates are the same model as used at high profile racing venues such as Flemington and Rosehill in Australia, Sha Tin in Hong Kong and Kranji in Singapore.

“Trainers such as Moira Murdoch, Richard Yuill, Kerry Verner and the Collett/Hapeta team provided the horses and were suitably impressed” said Auckland Racing Club Director of Racing, Andrew Castles. “Matthew Williamson and Catherine Tremayne are senior riders with considerable international experience and they were both glowing in their assessment of the new gates.”

With the universal approval of everyone present at the final trial, the Auckland Racing Club now looks forward to use of the world class gates on raceday for the first time on Saturday the 15th of April – the first day of the two day Ellerslie Easter Carnival.