Phantom day at the races
TOMORROW Palmerston North dogs TUESDAY Addington dogs, Southland dogs. WEDNESDAY Matamata gallops, Forbury Park trots, Whanganui dogs. THURSDAY Otaki gallops, Cambridge trots, Manukau dogs, Addington dogs. FRIDAY Ashburton gallops, Alexandra Park trots, Addington trots, Whanganui dogs, Addington dogs. SATURDAY Te Rapa gallops, Awapuni gallops, Winton trots. EXPERT TIPS AUCKLAND – Tim Ryan ZACADA: Following Derby trail blazed by stablemate Mongolian Khan. COLONEL CARRERA: Under-rated Rogerson galloper. Would pay to watch closely. WAIKATO – Ross Fisher SUGGESTIVE HEIGHTS: Blinkers on could help her upset the favourites at Ellerslie today. BAMURRU: Will go close over 1600 metres at Ellerslie today. CENTRAL DISTRICTS – Paul Gueorgieff BEADLE: Finished last in 3YO race at Trentham on debut. Can do much better. KEILIB: Continued consistent form at Trentham last weekend when fighting strongly for third over 1600m. CANTERBURY – Mat Kermeen BETTOR BE A LADY: Can win race six at Akaroa. KOTARE KASAI: First run this season and can win race four at odds today. OTAGO-SOUTHLAND – Jamie Searle SUMMERTIME LIZZIE – Easy winner at the Ascot Park workouts on Thursday. FINALLY KEVIN: Unraced C0 trotter who looked good winning at Ascot Park workouts. GREYHOUNDS – Peter Earley ROCKY BOY: Short priced favourite at Cambridge, Thursday. Missed away but was getting home rapidly to finish second. FRENCH CURVES: Last two runs have been very good. Has the inside ally in the ninth today. VIDEO WATCH – Murray Wedlake PALACE ROCK: Took an age to find clear air in the Trentham straight. APPREHEND: Covered ground across the top at Hastings and a bad bump in the run home did not help him either. The horses were nowhere to be found but thousands of partygoers still packed Invercargill’s Ascot Park yesterday in their fanciest fascinators and highest heels for Christmas at the Races.
While Ascot Park grandstands and lawns were full, the horses were racing at a track more than 30km away, with the galloping action beamed in live on giant television screens placed on the track.
Ascot Park was forced to host New Zealand’s first ‘‘phantom race meeting’’ on their most popular raceday after drainage issues ruled out their track.
The club decided last month to keep the party and people at Ascot Park for the Christmas at the Races meeting – the home of racing in the south – and transfer the actual horses and jockeys to Winton’s nearby racecourse.
Betting facilities operated normally at Ascot Park, with $135,000 put through the tote by the 5500 festive folk on the track.
Phantom meetings happen regularly in Asia when the public go to a racetrack to watch televised races from another venue but yesterday was a New Zealand first.
‘‘’We’ve created history by misfortune,’’ Southland Racing Club president Sean Bellew said.
Forty-five minutes up the road, about 300 people were on course at Winton for the nine-race programme. ‘‘It’s a passive crowd,’’ Bellew added. ‘‘The racing purists are here and the partygoers are at Ascot Park."
Despite the lack of horses and muggy conditions presenting a threat of rain, Invercargill hairdresser Taz Jacobs said she had a great time at Ascot Park.
‘‘It’s been socialising.’’
Hairdressing salon Holland agreed.
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‘‘It’s a bit different. We do miss the horses but we’re still having a wonderful time.’’
Charlotte Bellew, who came down from Christchurch, said she’d been going to the races since she was born.
‘‘I think it’s amazing how it worked out,’’ she said.
‘‘I wasn’t sure there’d be a lot of people because the horses aren’t here but it worked out.’’
Invercargill resident Glenn McEwan also said he didn’t mind the absence of horses. "I reckon it’s a good party.’’ Jacqui van Dam came from Auckland for the races. No horses was fine so long as there were friends and fashion, she said.
‘‘I think it was a courageous decision to do [to not have racing at Ascot Park] but it had to be done,’’ she said.
‘‘But it’s still a lot of fun. It always is. You get to see people you know and get dressed up. It’s a lot of fun.’’ Lea Mason didn’t mind. ‘‘It’s still nice to get dressed up. It’s a good excuse.’’