Clock tower inspires race week trophy
The Gold Cup racing festival in Palmerston North has been enhanced with the gift of four 17kg trophies in stainless steel and glass modelled on the clock tower in The Square.
Kamada Park horse stud owner Kevin Pratt commissioned the $20,000-apiece trophies for the winners of thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing, and one for the city.
Designed by Christchurch engineer Todd Jacobs, the model of the tower is crafted to scale from polished stainless steel and dichroic glass that changes colour as the viewer moves around it.
Mayor Grant Smith received the city’s trophy on Wednesday, and said it would be displayed in the council building where the public would be able to see and enjoy it.
The Norwood Gold Cup Festival kicks off on Wednesday with a free public family night in The Square from 4.30pm, an event that acknowledges ratepayers’ $50,000 a year contribution to creating the festival, now in its second year.
The family fun night would feature Easter egg hunts, performance by Enchanted, free-viewing family film Racing Stripes, food trucks, bouncy castles and face painting.
It would also provide chances to win two of 18 keys, one of which will open a Ford Fiesta at the Courtesy Ford race day at the end of the festival.
Harness and greyhound racing follows on Thursday night, with more family entertainment, cel- ebrity and sporting teams sulky challenges.
The main event, Sires Raceday, is at the Awapuni Racing Centre on Saturday with Six Chairs Missing providing entertainment, Fashion in the Field competitions, and finding out who will win the car.
Racing at Awapuni Combined Enterprise (RACE) chief executive Alasdair Robertson said if it could grow to be half as successful as the New Zealand Cup and Show week in Christchurch, it could generate $13.8 million in economic impact for Manawatu, and $16.3m in direct spending.
His goal was to build the festival into a ‘‘legacy’’ event for the city.
Jockey Rosie Myers and Kamada Park owner Kevin Pratt with Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith with the trophy celebrating the City of Palmerston North Gold Cup festival.