New club team ready for big day
RACING
THE grass is green, the gates are all open and a new team is running the show at Wingatui.
Champions Day at Wingatui will take place at the course today, and the facility is looking in good shape.
The meeting will be the first under the new management team at the Otago Racing Club.
The club has a new general manager in Grant Gaskin, who has a background in hotels and hospitality.
He is joined by new assistant general manager Noelle Prince, who joined the club only this week.
Prince has a background in racing, and has been involved in the game for most of her life. She is the daughterinlaw of Wingatui trainer Steven Prince.
Gaskin said the day was shaping up well, with full fields, plenty of owners coming along, good levels of sponsorship and a fine day forecast.
The venue was looking a picture after the good work of the ground staff and final touches were taking place yesterday.
There was entertainment for the children and a space to park cars and watch the races.
Gaskin said the feature event, the White Robe Lodge weightforage race, was one to watch.
White Robe Lodge has sponsored the race for nearly 50 years, believed to be the longest sponsorship of any race in NZ.
There would also be serviced tote booths to allow punters to easily lay bets, as the TAB is moving to have automated selfservice machines on courses.
The first race is at 12.12pm, and the last of nine races is at 4.53pm.