Breeders’ Stakes prizes staying put
As Graham Wellington headed out the door to attend the J Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders’ Stakes on Saturday, he said to his wife: ‘‘See you later, I’m off to win a car now’’. And that’s exactly what he did. ‘‘Every day I would go to work and tell everyone that I was going to win the car, I even had the number 71 in my head,’’ he said. ‘‘I won a TV and a car came with it too!’’ Jaye Clarke from Matamata Racing Club said she had to read the piece of paper about five times before it registered that Mr Wellington had won. ‘‘It was an absolute thrill,’’ she said. ‘‘To go to such a lovely local guy like Graham, it couldn’t have been more perfect.’’
Mr Wellington won a brand new Ford Falcon FG MKII XR6 valued at $50,000 from Fairview Motors Matamata.
Matamata Racing Club president John Moore said the fact that a local had won the car topped off what is thought to be the biggest Matamata Breeders’ Stakes Day ever.
Numbers were up on last year and Ms Clark said approximately 5000 people turned out to enjoy a day of great horse racing, fashion and entertainment.
Hastings-based horse Recite took out the main race in a thrilling dash to the finish line in the J Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders’ Stakes race.
Graham McGurk from Matamata Police said once again the day was a huge success.
‘‘Besides three people being processed for drink driving, the day was fantastic,’’ he said.
‘‘The crowd was so well behaved.’’