Riccarton Park Racecourse

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Riccarton Park Racecourse is the main thoroughbred horse racecourse for the Christchurch city area in New Zealand. [1]

Contents

History

The Canterbury Jockey Club was established in 1854 and held its first meeting at Hagley Park in Easter 1855. The Riccarton racecourse was reserved as a public recreation ground by the Canterbury Provincial Council in 1858 and leased to the Jockey Club.

Riccarton Racecourse became the home of the New Zealand Cup in 1867.

The Tea House and the Public Grandstand were designed by local architects, Alfred and Sidney Luttrell.

In October 2022 it was reported the Canterbury Jockey Club had been granted permission to demolish the 100-year old grandstand, despite opposition from heritage campaigners [2]

Main races

On the Saturday prior to Canterbury Show and Cup week in November:

On the Wednesday of the Canterbury Show and Cup week:

On the Saturday of the Canterbury Show and Cup week in mid-November:

In August:

In September:

Demographics

The Riccarton Racecourse statistical area includes a residential area between the racecourse and the commercial area of Hornby, New Zealand. Including the racecourse, it covers 1.69 km2 (0.65 sq mi). [4] It had an estimated population of 1,530 as of June 2022, [5] with a population density of 905 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20061,170    
20131,215+0.54%
20181,206−0.15%
Source: [6]

Riccarton Racecourse had a population of 1,206 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 9 people (−0.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 36 people (3.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 486 households. There were 618 males and 588 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.05 males per female. The median age was 38.5 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 174 people (14.4%) aged under 15 years, 273 (22.6%) aged 15 to 29, 552 (45.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 207 (17.2%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 69.7% European/Pākehā, 8.7% Māori, 5.7% Pacific peoples, 21.1% Asian, and 3.5% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 28.6%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 45.5% had no religion, 40.5% were Christian, 2.5% were Hindu, 0.5% were Muslim, 1.5% were Buddhist and 3.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 198 (19.2%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 219 (21.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $34,800, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 573 (55.5%) people were employed full-time, 126 (12.2%) were part-time, and 39 (3.8%) were unemployed. [6]

See also

Reference list

  1. Website for Riccarton Park Archived 20 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "100-year-old grandstand to be demolished at Riccarton Racecourse". 25 October 2022.
  3. "The Races". Archived from the original on 2 January 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  4. "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  5. "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand . Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Riccarton Racecourse (319800). 2018 Census place summary: Riccarton Racecourse

Coordinates: 43°31′41″S172°32′40″E / 43.527953°S 172.544317°E / -43.527953; 172.544317

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