Uneasy wait for racing enthusiasts

Storm clouds, real and political, have gathered over Stratford’s parched racetrack.

A dose of rain at the weekend would green up the track in time for what could be the Stratford Trotting Club’s last meeting there on March 2, club president and racecourse manager David Jones said, eyeing the clouds last Thursday.

The other cloud over the club is that Te Kapua Park is one of 21 racecourses around the country listed for closure if the recommendations of an industry report are confirmed.

The New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) report recommended the Stratford Racing Club track close this year and race meetings be held at the Pukekura Raceway in New Plymouth.

Ha¯ wera’s Egmont Racing Club would close by 2030 if the plan is adopted.

The Stratford Racing Club’s committee would be making submissions to the NZTR by the March 19 consultation deadline.

The trotting club has already been given a date for its next meeting but no venue, Jones said.

‘‘We don’t want to race at New Plymouth, we want to stay here, where our members, community and sponsors have given us huge support over many decades.’’

But for now, Jones and a team of volunteers are preparing for the March meeting, when about 100 standardbreds will contest nine or 10 races.

Volunteers Jim Gilbert, 82, and Alan Mason, 88, both life members of the club, spent Thursday morning helping Jones draft off lambs and drench the flock that helps keep the racecourse mown.

Both Mason and Gilbert have been involved with the club and the course for many years.

The pair enjoy the company and the exercise keeps them fit.

They and other volunteers walk the track two mornings a week after the gallopers have trained, putting the pieces of turf chopped out by flying hooves, back in place to repair the grass.

About 80 horses are trained at the race track, with trotters training separately to the thoroughbreds.

One of them is Jones’ horse, a six-year-old mare named Secret of the Sea Smile.

He’s hopeful she will have a good run on March 2.

How did she get the name? ‘‘The secret of the sea is in Davy Jones’ locker,’’ he said.

Wide grins on both Gilbert and Mason add the Smile.