Alexandra Park, Auckland
| Location | Epsom, Auckland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | Coordinates: 36°53′28″S 174°46′41″E / 36.8911°S 174.7781°E |
| Owned by | Auckland Trotting Club |
| Date opened | 1890 |
| Race type | Harness racing |
| Course type | Dirt, Right-handed |
| Notable races | Auckland Trotting Cup |
| Official website | |
Alexandra Park is the home of the Auckland Trotting Club in Epsom, Auckland. The park consists of the Alexandra Park trotting track, conference centre, and a high-end urban village currently under construction. Alexandra Park hosts many feature harness races throughout the year including the Auckland Trotting Cup and is the home of the New Zealand Trotting Hall of Fame and museum.
The Epsom site has held races since 1890 and its regular Friday Night Trots under lights have been an Auckland institution since the 1950s.
In recent years the club’s business model has been expanded and successfully overhauled. Under the current leadership of chief executive Dominique Dowding and the board of the Auckland Trotting Club considerable work has been done to ensure Alexandra Park’s continued success as well as a long-term financially viable future for harness racing in the northern region.
Emphasis has been put on delivering the board’s three strategic pillars: To revitalise and reposition harness racing in the region; Grow the business and attract new audiences; and Lift the value of the club’s existing property portfolio. The club’s strategic refocussing was recognised at the 2015 Westpac Auckland Business Awards where Alexandra Park took out the supreme title for ‘Excellence in Strategy & Planning’. In 2016 the club is a Central area finalist for ‘Excellence in Marketing’ and ‘Excellence in Customer Service Delivery’.
Recent operational milestones for the club have included merging with the Franklin Trotting Club to provide training facilities in Pukekohe to help reduce the costs for trainers. The board has also announced a number of incentives to lift racing participation at Alexandra Park.
2015 saw the construction and long-term leasing out of a training centre for Super 15 rugby franchise, The Auckland Blues.
Other tenants include Cirque du Soleil; Grand Park Chinese restaurant, Sport Auckland, Lollypops day-care, and Caltex and Burger King on Manukau Road. On course, The Alex Eatery is owned and operated by the club while the park’s TAB has the biggest turnover of any in the country, boasting an annual take of over $11m.
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Wikipedia