Dress for success at the races
Find your best hat and pick your most fabulous outfit for this weekend’s summer racing festival at Richmond Park.
Nelson Harness Race Club president John McKenzie said they were expecting about 6000 people to attend the two days of the Interislander Summer Festival on Friday and Sunday, about the same number as last year.
‘‘It’s hard to get much more to come from the Nelson district for a couple of days ... unless there’s a sudden influx from somewhere.’’
The Best Hat Day takes place on Friday and the Fashion in the Field competition on Sunday.
The weekend also includes free children’s entertainment including bouncy castles, face painting, balloon twisting and more. Live music will feature on both days and local food and drinks will be available at the showgrounds.
McKenzie said the race track was made for all types of weather, so even if it rained the races would continue.
Nelson Harness Racing Club celebrated 125 years of horse racing last year.
McKenzie said then that it was hard work for many clubs in New Zealand to keep up the ‘‘day at the races’’ tradition because the ‘‘youth aren’t enthused’’.
He said this year the club had not ‘‘put a lot of effort to try and entice them to come along but the best thing we can do is hope like hell that social media works for us ... cause we’ve done a fair bit in that department.’’
McKenzie said he thought young people could definitely have fun at the races.
‘‘I don’t mean boozing and getting drunk or anything like that, but certainly you can have a great day ... and win a bit of money.’’
McKenzie said the purse for the Nelson Cup was $14,000 this year and there would be 11 races on each day.
Entry is free for children under 18 and $10 for adults.
Gates are open at 10am on Friday with racing starting at 2.29pm and 9am on Sunday with racing beginning at 12.15pm.