Changes To Rotorua Programme
Following consultation between TRAC, the RIU and the NZTR Venue Inspector in regards to the Racing Rotorua race meeting on Wednesday 7 September 2011, the decision has been made to delete the following races from the programme:
R70 1400M
Maiden 1400M
The decision has been made following some drainage work which was deemed necessary after a water pooling issue eventuated in the 1400M chute at Arawa Park. The possibility of both races being contested over 1300M was considered but not pursued as the position of the 1300M start in relation to running rail & turn into the back straight is not suitable.
Rain Forces Meeting Abandonment
Consistent rainfall over recent days, and heavy falls overnight have contributed to the abandonment of today’s NZI WINTER RACEDAY event at Arawa Park in Rotorua.
Racecourse Manager Daniel Amies said that 25mm of rain had fallen at the venue overnight, continuing a bad 2011 which had seen 1313mm of rain already this year.
Mr Amies was part of a four-person team that inspected the track at 6.45 this morning, along with Raceday Manager Dave Taylor, and Stipendiary Stewards John Oatham and Gary Stewart.
“We looked at the track at 6.45, and came to the unanimous decision that due to surface water the track was unsafe to conduct a racemeeting,” said Mr Taylor.
The official decision was made half an hour later with the arduous task of contacting all affected parties beginning at that time.
TRAC Racing Rotorua Event Manager Paul Hickey was sure there would be plenty of disappointed punters.
“We had a great day lined up with many functions on course, including our local ‘Classic Club Finale’ which always happens on the last day of the local season. This will now be held over to the next meeting. But safety has to come first.”
The next raceday at Arawa Park is set for Wednesday 7 September.
Bonus Quaddie For Tauranga
TRAC Racing Taurangas July 20 meeting has been included as part of the 'Winter Windfall' promotion running thoughout the month.
The 'Lion Red/UGL Chatered Clubs Raceday' will include a $10,000 Bonus Quaddie as part of the initiative to maintain momentum of interest in the weekday meetings.
Te Aroha Trials Cancelled
Trials scheduled for Tuesday 12 July at Racing Te Aroha have had to be abandoned. The decision has been made following damage caused to the track at last Fridays race meeting.
It was hoped the track would holdup during the meeting, however heavey rain prior to and during the meeting meant that there is no possibility of it recovering in time to host the programmed trials.
RESULTS: Amcor Kiwi / LRK Trays Kiwifruit Cup Day
2009 winner Indikator did it again on Saturday, winning the Kiwifruit Cup at Racing Tauranga comfortably. See the days full results HERE.
RESULTS: Dally Day
The popular annual event that is Dally Day took place at Te Aroha on Friday, with an eight race programme including 4 jumps races. Full results available HERE.
RESULTS: Lion Red Chartered Clubs Raceday
The Lion Red Chartered Clubs Raceday started with two hurdles events as part of the 8-race programme. Full results are available HERE.
RESULTS: Colchester Engineering Raceday
The 8-race programme at Matamata saw James McDonald equal the record for most wins in a season. See the full race results HERE.
RESULTS: vero Winter Raceday, Tauranga
It was a fine day for the start of winter, and Racing Tauranaga hosted the 'vero Winter Raceday on Wednesday 1 June. Find the full results HERE.
Winter Racing On The Horizon
The month of June signifies the official start of winter, and TRAC gets the racing underway on the 1st of the month in Taurnaga, the first of five racemeeting scheduled for the month.
Racing Tauranga hosts the 'vero Winter Raceday' with an eight race programme, then a week later on Wednesday 8th its the turn of Matamata for the 'Colchester Engineering Raceday. Then it's across to Rotorua on Friday 17th for the 'Lion Red Chartered Clubs Raceday. before a back-to-back schedule to finish the month off.
Friday 24th is the annual 'Dally Day' in Te Aroha, while Saturday 25th is the return of the 'Amcor Kiwi-LRK Trays Kiwifruit Cup Day in Tauranga. The Winter Premier Meeting includes two Listed races, the Open 'Kiwifruit Cup' over 2100m, and the Fillies & Mares WFA Ingham Sears Mercedes Benz Taurnaga Classic over 1400m. The day also features two exciting functions for the piublic, the 'Radio Sport BOP Punter Of The Year', and the 'Mid Year Christmas Party'.
Another exciting month of racing coming up with TRAC!
RESULTS: NZI Farmers Raceday, Matamata
The NZI Farmers Raceday was held on Wednesday 18 May in overcast conditions on a Heavy 11 track. Full results are avalable HERE.
RESULTS: Rotorua Gold Cup Day
The second day of racing in the 2011 Rotorua Autumn Carnival was held on Saturday 14 May at Arawa Park. Full results available HERE.
Results: Platinum Homes NZ Rotorua Cup Day
Indikator made it back-to-back wins in the Group III event on Saturday at Arawa Park. The full results for the day are available HERE.
New Autumn Carnival Set For Rotorua
Two consecutive Saturdays of thoroughbred racing in Rotorua spearhead the programme for the inaugural ‘Rotorua Autumn Carnival’ which will be staged at Rotorua’s Arawa Park Racecourse over the next two weekends.
TRAC Marketing & Sponsorship Manager Don Paterson said “the traditional Rotorua Cup Day has always been held in early May, and when we had the opportunity to add another big meeting a week later, the Carnival concept was obvious.”
Following in the footsteps of other successful carnivals such as ‘Cup & Show Week’ in Christchurch and ‘Auckland Cup Week’, this is the first step in building an event which attracts visitors from both sides of the Tasman to enjoy everything Rotorua has to offer.
The biggest race of the carnival is the ‘Platinum Homes NZ Rotorua Cup’, which takes place on the opening weekend of racing. It is a Group 3, 2200m race, with a stake of $85,000, and is one of Rotorua’s oldest and most prestigious sporting events. The first day of the carnival will also feature the ‘Windsor Park Stud Rotorua Stakes’, a Listed, Weight For Age race over 1400 metres for Fillies and Mares, with a stake of $45,000.
“These are both major races in our calendar, and to have the continued support from Platinum Homes NZ and Windsor Park Stud enhances the reputation of these great races”.
The second day of racing in the Carnival is the newly created ‘Rotorua Gold Cup Day’, with all winning owners receiving commemorative gold cups from the race sponsors to celebrate the event.
The Gold Cup Day will also include the 2011 ‘LiveSPORT Rotorua Punter Of The Year’ competition. A top prize of free entry into the NZ Punter Of The Year including stake money is sure to attract a number of top punters from around the region.
While most eyes will be focussed on the winning post, there will be plenty of other activities as part of Rotorua’s Autumn Carnival. There will be live music, free kids entertainment, and lots of prize giveaways. One lucky person on course will win a trip to Sydney, and another will win a Home Theatre System, plus there is the chance to win a World Cruise on board the Queen Elizabeth, and a brand new Hyundai i45 Elite, each worth $50,000. A Rotorua Punter Of The Year competition is also planned.
Mr Paterson says that “while we are starting the carnival with just the race meetings and on-course activities this year, future ideas are unlimited. This is the first step in building an event which attracts visitors from both sides of the Tasman to enjoy everything Rotorua has to offer”.
“TRAC is continuing to attract quality brands to Rotorua sponsorships, and we look forward to building this events reputation into the future”.
Results: Challenge Matamata Autumn Raceday
The 'Challenge Matamata Autumn Raceday' was held on Friday 29 April in fine conditions. See the full days results here.
Results: Gartshore-Winning Edge Presentations Championship Raceday
Easter Saturday saw the 2011 Gartshore-Winning Edge Championship Raceday held at Racing Tauranga, with 'New Moon' taking the honours in the big race of the day. For full results, click here.
Rotorua Results: vero Autumn Raceday
The 'vero Autumn Raceday' was held on Friday 15 April at Arawa Park Rotorua. For full results, click here.
Series Nears Completion
Just two qualifying races remain in the 'Winning Edge Presentations Championship Series', with both races set to be staged by the end of this weekend.
The 'vero Autumn Raceday' in Rotorua on Friday, and the 'Land Pride Easter Handicap Raceday' at Ellerslie on Saturday stage the final rounds, before the $60,000 Final will be run at Tauranga on Easter Saturday.
The TRAC Racing group’s popular Winning Edge Series is staged across 15 races over a two month period, with the Lee Somervell-trained 'Prime Hit' currently leading the qulaifying points standings.
NEWSLINK: Barinka Breaks Through
Following Barinka’s win in a stakes at Ellerslie last month, trainer Karen Zimmerman ambitiously set her sights on victory at the highest level. Read the full THOUROUGHBRED TIMES article HERE.
NEWSLINK: Barinka Finally Has Her Turn In Limelight
Poor old Barinka. How many races does she have to win to finally be tagged as a glamour horse? Read the full NEW ZEALAND HERALD article HERE.