Addington Raceway
Encyclopedia
Addington Raceway or The Met is the home of the Metropolitan Trotting Club in Addington
, Christchurch
in New Zealand. The venue consists of a trotting track, a greyhound track conference centre and restaurants. It is also home to many feature harness races such as: The New Zealand Trotting Cup
and the Dominion Handicap
.
The raceway forms part of a sporting complex that includes Rugby League Park
and the CBS Canterbury Arena.
. Charles Louisson
, a steward of NZMTC and Mayor of Christchurch
at the time, helped to secure land in Addington
and in 1899, the club moved to the present site. From 1906 until his death in 1924, he was the president of the NZMTC. The grounds were enlarged during his presidency. The Louisson Handicap was an annual race that was held for many years. Between 1914 and 1923, Louisson annually donated the silver trophy for the New Zealand Trotting Cup, which he had manufactured in England.
Addington, New Zealand
Addington is a major suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is sited south-west of the city centre.-Description:The suburb was named for the country residence of Bishop John Sumner, one of the leading members of the Canterbury Association....
, Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
in New Zealand. The venue consists of a trotting track, a greyhound track conference centre and restaurants. It is also home to many feature harness races such as: The New Zealand Trotting Cup
New Zealand Trotting Cup
The New Zealand Trotting Cup or New Zealand Cup is a Group One harness race held annually by the NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club at Addington Raceway in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is considered the country's most prestigious harness racing event. the prize was NZ$750,000, the largest prize for a...
and the Dominion Handicap
Dominion Handicap
The Dominion is a race held at the Addington Raceway each year in Christchurch, New Zealand for standardbred horses. It was worth $300,000, but in line with the economic conditions, it was cut back to $200,000 in 2010. The race is run in November over a distance of 3200 m on the Friday...
.
The raceway forms part of a sporting complex that includes Rugby League Park
Rugby League Park
Rugby League Park is a rugby league stadium in Christchurch, New Zealand. Formerly called the Addington Showgrounds, the ground is owned by the Canterbury Rugby League.-History:...
and the CBS Canterbury Arena.
History
The NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club (NZMTC) was first based at Lancaster Park in WalthamWaltham, New Zealand
Waltham is an inner suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, located two kilometres southeast of the city centre. State Highway 73, part of Christchurch's ring road system, runs through the suburb, as does the Heathcote River and the Christchurch - Lyttelton rail corridor. The Christchurch gasworks was...
. Charles Louisson
Charles Louisson
Charles Melville Louisson , known as Charles Louisson or Chas Louisson, was a New Zealand politician. Born in London, and relocated to Australia as a teenager, he worked in farming and on the gold fields...
, a steward of NZMTC and Mayor of Christchurch
Mayor of Christchurch
The Mayor of Christchurch is the head of the municipal government of Christchurch, New Zealand, and presides over the Christchurch City Council. The mayor is directly elected using a First Past the Post electoral system...
at the time, helped to secure land in Addington
Addington, New Zealand
Addington is a major suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand. It is sited south-west of the city centre.-Description:The suburb was named for the country residence of Bishop John Sumner, one of the leading members of the Canterbury Association....
and in 1899, the club moved to the present site. From 1906 until his death in 1924, he was the president of the NZMTC. The grounds were enlarged during his presidency. The Louisson Handicap was an annual race that was held for many years. Between 1914 and 1923, Louisson annually donated the silver trophy for the New Zealand Trotting Cup, which he had manufactured in England.