Racing returns to city’s track
The boss of Taranaki racing is hoping to put bad weather and past track issues behind the club following a successful meeting on Saturday.
Taranaki Racing Inc chief executive Carey Hobbs said after a bad spell of weather, which saw its August 20 meet abandoned due to heavy rain, it was great to see the sunshine, and crowds, return to the New Plymouth Raceway.
With all the corporate seats sold out, Hobbs said while the official tally from the gate had yet to be finalised, he estimated between 1200-1500 were in attendance.
Hobbs was also chuffed the flagship $60,000 ITM Interprovincial race could run, after it was one of those lost when last month’s meeting was canned.
The 1800m race was won by No Loitering, under the stewardship of jockey Kelsey Hannan and trainer Iain Marks, who is based in Hāwera.
Cetus placed second, while Taranaki trainer Allan Sharrock’s Justaskme came third.
Saturday’s racing was not without its dramas, with two jockeys hurt in falls, both suffering broken legs, Hobbs said.
However, the club was ‘‘very happy’’ overall with the calibre of the racing and how the day unfolded. Hobbs was looking forward to the season ahead, with one of the club’s most popular meets on the horizon.
On November 18, twilight racing is scheduled, which in the past had proven popular with the corporate punters.
‘‘It’s one of the bigger days.’’ Taranaki Racing was given the green light to host meetings again by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing in July this year, after a six-month stand-down due to track safety concerns, which resulted in a lengthy period of maintenance being carried out.
‘‘It’s one of the bigger days.’’ Carey Hobbs Taranaki Racing Inc chief executive