When the prompt “lost world” was given I had just attended the last night of Harness Racing at Forbury Park in Dunedin, New Zealand. While I was involved in closing the raceway it was sad to see it close after nearly 100 years of racing. My father, my brothers and I had all raced at the Park with my dad and I both winning races as trainers. Being there on the night I reflected on my dad who passed away in 1999 and how he had won a lot of races there and wouldn’t he be sad to see its demise.

When looking at the property I could see the old wood and deterioration of the grandstands, the lack of maintenance and care for what once was a magnificent complex

I painted fabric to look like the beams and the roof structure on the stands which are blackened with dirt and age – highlighted with inktense ink blocks. I wondered what amazing races they had seen over the years: easy wins; close finishes; happiness and despair of owners when their horse was placed or unplaced. These old buildings hold so many memories.

I then took a walk around the stabling area for the horses and talked to trainers and drivers as they went about their work. It was just another race night, very cold in 3 degrees Celsius (mid winter) with people gearing and ungearing horses, keeping themselves and their horses warm but with an air of reminiscence as they went about their work. No one was unhappy with the closure, just sad and next week they would be racing elsewhere.

So to create the stables I made log cabin blocks with stitching to highlight the separation from the public in the grandstands. The stables are old and worn but still functional.

Next was the track itself, beautifully groomed with straight lines from the harrows all ready for each race with its rails to keep everything separated.

On the far side of the track were the yards and boxes of the on course trainers. At this stage only 3 left who had departed to other properties that week. While functional they were again old and worn.

This track is lost to the people of Dunedin however the property will be sold and used for something new and exciting. Its in a flood plain so part will be used for much needed drainage, other parts for schools and housing and it will regenerate itself as an exciting new part of the city. Lets hope its heritage is not forgotten.

Size 21in W x 40 in H Machine pieced and quilted. Hand dyed and hand painted / stamped / stenciled fabrics. Inktense Ink blocks