Southland tracks from the past

Balfour (disestablished)

Balfour racecourse is the birthplace of the Northern Southland Trotting Club and hosts an annual equalisator meeting in December.  The grass course is also used as a training facility.

Riverton (disestablished)

In June 1898 the Riverton Racing Club leased its current property (Riverton racecourse, 1600m) for fourteen years before purchasing it for approximately 6,000 pounds in 1909. Trotting races were held at the clubs meetings between 16 May 1925 and 11 April 1950 (in later years 17 September 1993 and 26 April 2000). The Clifden JC held its 13 January 1937 meeting at Riverton which incorporated trotting races. The Riverton Trotting Club held non-tote/equalisator meetings at Riverton from 14 January 1961 until 1 December 1973.

Otautau (disestablished)

The Otautau TC held three non-totalisator meetings on the Strathmore racecourse, Otautau.  The course was developed on Mr Normans Linton Park property, Otautau for the Tatautau Racing Club in the early 1900’s.

 Wairio (disestablished)

The Wairio racecourse (1 mile course; three miles from Nightcaps, in the coalfields district of Southland), was first set down in 1894.  Trotting featured regularly on their race cards from 30 January 1895 until 14 November 1964. The Wairio TC was formed in 1936, beginning initially with a non-tote licence between 5 December 1936 and 19 January 1949. 

The Wairio TC’s inaugural totalisator meeting was held on 9 December 1950 and they continued to race on the Wairio racecourse until their final meeting on the track was held on 10 April 1965. The Wairio TC moved to Central Southland Raceway at Winton holding their first meeting on 2 April 1966 and continuing to race on the now all-weather track for over a half century.