A ripper day at the Boxing Day Races
Armed with cash and alcohol, thousands of punters made their way to Awapuni Racing Centre to celebrate their Boxing Day in style.
The malls weren’t a drawcard for this crowd, with punters erupting with screams and applause as their horses raced across the finish line in the 26 degrees Celsius heat.
It was too soon to know how many people had made their way to this year’s Boxing Day races, but Awapuni Racing Centre general manager Kim Treweek said they were tracking well ahead of last year’s numbers at more than 5000 punters.
‘‘The last couple of years it’s rained at the start of the day, but it’s a beautiful day today. The carpark’s probably a good gauge.
‘‘Covid has probably done good things for people getting out again. We probably became a bit complacent and home bodies, but now we’re getting pretty good numbers, it’s been really positive.
‘‘I think once people got back into attending live events they realised they’ve been missing out.
‘‘We’ve got freedom we didn’t have for a while – a freedom the rest of the world still doesn’t have – so people are getting out and enjoying themselves.’’
Up to 90 horses took to the track over nine races, one more than usual after an influx of nominations, but one race grabbed the attention of the crowd unlike any other.
The Undie 100 had the crowds leering at a different set of Jockeys fighting for the first place ribbon, but Feilding man Jacob Aomarere-poole, 22, was a stride ahead.
A quick slip up at the start didn’t put him off, with his mind set on the $100 gift voucher and making his girlfriend proud.
‘‘I couldn’t lose in front of her because she’ll make fun of me.’’
Perched on the lawn, Bev Rauhihi, 78, and daughters Sandra Tait, 61, and Vikki Tait, 60, were sun-smart, donning sunhats hand decorated with Christmas ornaments from their trees.
Rauhihi, from Feilding, gathers with her family who live across the North Island every year at the Boxing Day races for a bet and a day in the sun.
‘‘We got here really early, we’ve been looking forward to this all year. I’m hoping to win.’’
Among the fillies and stallions prancing across the grass were Annie Grimes, 20, and Quaid Robinson, 27, who were two of the best dressed people on the green.
Wearing a creamy crop top and flowing boho styled skirt, rented from Bohemian Borrowed in Palmerston North, Grimes knew it was the one the moment she laid eyes on the outfit.
‘‘I saw it and I thought ‘Oh my god, that’s what I want to wear’.’’
She managed to snag it for free due to her connections at the store but Robinson dropped more than $300 on his ice creaminspired threads.
‘‘I just wanted to dress like this because I thought everyone would stare at me, I thought it would make a few people happy.’’
Robinson had placed a few smart bets across the day, raking in $100.
‘‘I’ll shout the boys a couple of beers, we all link up every year at the Boxing Day races.’’