There are a lot of fingers being crossed in South Canterbury this week, as the Timaru Harness Racing Club prepares for one of its biggest meetings of the year on Saturday.
Of the 10 races on the all-weather track at the Phar Lap Raceway the feature is the $20,000 Tyre General Timaru Summer Cup.
“Some overnight rain and a shower in the morning will set the track up nicely for the twilight race meeting” says Club past president Liz Shand, “the rain tends to go around us here …. we don’t mind a shower or two.
The Summer Cup (4.42pm), which is part of the Country Championship, has a big and talented field that includes backmarker Allamericanlover, who will start off 30m, as well as the returning Franco Marek, Star Magic, who has won his last three starts, Maren Franco and Get Up N Dance.
Artatac will also have plenty of support. Trained by Mark Jones, the four-year-old gelding is owned by former Temuka local Grant Hatton and his wife Kathy. The Art Major gelding has won at Timaru twice before, and is aiming to replicate his win in this year’s Timaru Winter Cup.
The day’s big trot, the Equine Veterinary Services/George Shand Memorial Handicap Trot, is another race to attract a quality field. Smokin Bandar and Matua Tana finished 10th and 11th after breaking early in last Friday’s Renwick Farms Dominion Trot and will carry a lot of support while local vet and race sponsor Donna Williamson will be attempting to win “her” own race with stablemates The Dominator (Craig Thornley) and Clyde (Tim Williams). The Dominator is the defending champion having won last year’s race from favourite Show Me The Gray.
Hot To Trot has strong local connections too through co-owners and prominent South Canterbury harness racing identities Graham Stoddart and Barry Phillips as well as popular Mid-Canterbury owners Ross McCutcheon and Kevin Schmack.
The Club’s expecting a good turnout with upwards of 400 already confirmed in organised groups.
“This meeting is an opportunity for our corporate groups to experience and enjoy a day at the races and for our keen punters to follow the good horse form after Cup week” says Shand, “and our biggest meeting of the summer so hopefully people will come and enjoy themselves and the weather will play ball.”
“Last year we only had a few groups on course because of Covid, we were in orange and had to wear masks,” says Shand. “This year people want to be ‘out and about’, enjoy the social connection and party”.
If the rain does come the club has some contingencies in mind, with great race viewing from the Grey Way Lounge and the Phar Lap Bar, marquees and other areas that will protect punters from the elements. Steve and Christine Inkersell of Catering South Canterbury will also have a wide range of meals and food options on the day.
Entertainment on course as well as family activities include a ‘Best Dressed Hat’ competition sponsored by Lida Fashions, His n Hers Fashion Temuka and TJB Photography
Race 1 is set to go at 1.35pm.
