The Northern Southland Trotting Club host their feature meeting of the season at Ascot Park Raceway in Invercargill this Saturday, 13 March. It is a massive day with great racing and plenty of activity around the course.
It is a day of quality harness racing with three Group 3 races on the programme – the Yaldhurst Hotel Northern Southland Cup, the Prydes Easifeed Southern Lights Trot, the Caduceus Club Of Southland / Alabar 2yo Classic plus the Grinaldi Lodge / Stella Frost Ladyship Final Mobile Pace.
One interesting race on the programme is the Southland 9 Canterbury 3 Mobile Pace, a race that will trigger some great memories for many rugby fans on course! The Cup will see the meeting of two of the south’s best U May Cullect and Pembrook Playboy in what should be a superb contest.
The first race is timed to start at 12 noon.
Admission at the gate is free but $40 gains you access to the Top Of The Park with superb viewing and food and beverage provided as part of the price of your ticket.
Once again, a lucky punter will win a flight to Stewart Island courtesy of Stewart Island Flights with a draw just before the last race from losing tickets and also race book coupons to find the winner.
The club are again committed to the Team Teal Campaign which raises funds for research into ovarian cancer. Donation buckets will circulate the course on race day and a nice donation could pocket you a pottle of Bluff Oysters or an ice cream courtesy of Tip Top Southland.
Racegoers are also encouraged to wear teal on the day to show their support for the campaign and teal merchandise will be on sale in the Secretary’s Office. The Robin Dundee Club will also support the campaign, donating $50 for every winning female driver and a further $50 for every winning filly or mare. They are also running a Team Teal Ribbon Appeal selling tickets at $5 each with up to a dozen draws for some great prizes.
The club will also donate $100 to the campaign for every female driving success on the day with a further $100 from Southern Harness Racing, $100 from HRNZ, $50 from Todd Racing Ltd adding up to $350 per win. Driver Mark Hurrell is also donating to the campaign each time he drives a winner while start crew member Art Bloxham has been donating his wages from every meeting during the Teal Campaign.
To top it off, in another generous gesture Tom Kilkelly has pledged $1000 to Team Teal should U May Cullect win the Cup or $500 should it run second and $250 for any other place.
Owners are welcome in the Alabar Owners Room on the first floor of the main grandstand where they can enjoy hospitality throughout the day while an Owners Prize draw will take place with the club drawing a winner at each of their three race days this season (10 October, 13 January, 13 March) to culminate with the announcement of an overall winner who will win a Stewart Island travel package, while second receives an Ascot Park Hotel package and third a prize from Macca Lodge.
Prior to the meeting the club has drawn two members who will win a $100 betting voucher to use on the day, with this weekend’s prize winners Lisa Barrie and Greg Hewitt. Brian Pitcher of AON Insurance has won a $100 betting voucher in the Lucky Sponsor draw. Kidz Kartz will also take to the track in a big day of action.
Tote operators will be on course to personally take your bets.
Head to the Northern Southland Trotting Club Facebook page for more information on a great day of action.
