After an amalgamation of the Invercargill Racing Club and the Invercargill Jockey Club and later with the Amateur Turf Club; the Southland Racing Club was formed in the late 1880's.
Club stalwart Bill Hazlett who had a 40 year tenure as president from 1907 founded a successful policy in attracting stronger horses for meetings by increasing stakes money. The additional wealth created from this policy lead to the erection of two of the grandstands still standing at Ascot Park Racecourse today.