Geraldine is gearing up for one of its biggest days of the year, with 12 races scheduled for its annual pre-Christmas meeting on Saturday.
After getting 259 nominations big wide open fields will be the order of the day.
“The lure of grass track racing is real,” says Geraldine Trotting Club President Mark Weaver, “we have had tremendous support from owners, trainers, the public, and sponsors and on a good day we could have 2-3000 people on course.”
Saturday’s meeting marks 75 years since the first harness racing meeting was held at Orari in 1947. Traditionally the November meeting is hugely popular. In 2020 turnover topped $1.2m.
“We really want to showcase harness racing in our area and that’s not just Geraldine, it takes in the McKenzie Country and Mid Canterbury as well.”
The day’s feature will be the $25,000 Placemakers Timaru-Twizel-Oamaru Geraldine Cup that includes the likes of Anything Goes, Franco Marek and the All Stars pairing of Cyrus and Shan Noble.
The corporate areas have long been booked out with around 600 people expected.
“We have hosted people in marquees over the years that have gone on to own horses and sponsor races,” says Weaver, “it exposes so many new people to a product they haven’t seen before.”
Weaver and his team have spent many hours and a lot of money trying to ensure everything is on point for their big day.
“The track and the buildings are in great shape – entry is free and we’ll have a band and lots of food and drink options for people as well as ‘best dressed’ competitions – it should be a lot fun.”
Saturday’s meeting will be followed by another one at Orari in April. After that the future is uncertain, after the Harness Racing New Zealand Board decided this year to close down the venue.
“We are hopeful HRNZ will re-assess that,” says Weaver, “we are forever hopeful but we know it’s a massive challenge, and another reason why we want Saturday to succeed.”
To view Saturday’s fields click here
