aberdeens new racecourse

 Aberdeen has a new racecourse. An enclosure, paddock and stands have been constructed at Anderson Drive North. The first race meeting will be on Saturday, April 17. The enclosure and paddock will hold some 5,000 people, and the stands will accommodate 1,000. In addition there will be a licensed restaurant and a car park. The Northern Pony Club, of which Major Gordon is chairman, are sponsoring the undertaking. A good entry of ponies has been secured for the first race meeting. Ponies are actually racehorses, but they are designated ponies because they are under fifteen hands. The club has been fortunate in securing the services of Mr H. R. Davidson, who has had extensive experience in England and France, as racing manager. Lord Provost Watt is a patron, and the proceeds of the first meeting will be handed over to the new Infirmary Appeal Fund. There will be thirteen meetings in all during the season.

Source: Aberdeen Press and Journal Thursday April 8th, 1937

NEWEST ABERDEEN SPORT CENTRE  LORD PROVOST DECLARES RACECOURSE OPEN FOR FIRST MEETING Aberdeen's newest sporting centre, the fine racecourse constructed by the Northern Racing Company at Anderson Drive North, was declared open by Lord Provost Watt on Saturday. Although the weather was disappointing at the time when favourable conditions were most important - the time when people would have been setting out for the course - there was a splendid attendance, and later in the afternoon the day brightened a little. A fine afternoon's sport was enjoyed, the pleasure for the spectators no doubt being enhanced by the fact that the proceeds of the first day's meeting went to the Lord Provost's £100,000 Royal Infirmary Building Fund. The directors, the officials and friends attended a luncheon before the opening of the course, the guests including Lord Provost Watt and Miss Watt, Baillie Ross, Mr G. S. Fraser, town clerk, and Mr T. F. Henderson, city engineer. Major G. H. Gordon, Maxieburn, Stonehaven, the managing director, presided, and called upon the Lord Provost to declare the course open.

 INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT "This is an interesting development in Aberdeen," said Lord Provost Watt, "and the future of the Northern Racing Club, we hope, is going to be successful." He recalled the great boom in horse-riding just after the South African War, and said that in Aberdeen at the present time he was struck by the big development in horsemanship. There were endless numbers of young and old people who had learned to ride, but the difficulty was, where were they going to go? A tarmacadam road was not much use for a horse. He would like to see something in the nature of a proper tan-ride which would be available for the young generation of Aberdeen to practise one of the most healthy and delightful exercises that could possibly be engaged in. Speaking as an individual, he wanted to see a track of that sort. He did not know what the schemes of the club were, but it seemed to him to be a step in the right direction. It was all to the good that they should have a club whose object was to develop and encourage the pony. He submitted the toast of the "Northern Racing Club." and declared the course open. After a jockey dressed in Major Gordon's colours had handed a bouquet to Miss Watt, votes of thanks were accorded on the call of Dr W. J. Leach, Beauly, one of the stewards. 

STONEARCH WINS The Inauguration Cup was the first race and the favourite was Gold Tassie at 4-5. The favourite slipped a little, however - the ground was soft - and Archetta got into the lead and stayed there. The big race the day was the 3.30 for Lord Provost Watt's Infirmary Cup. It was a sweepstake handicap of 1 1/4 miles. Stonearch, which was joint favourite with Toy Prince, led all the way and was seldom threatened.

 Source: Aberdeen Press and Journal Monday April 19th, 1937