Awards limited to 100 people

COVID-19 restrictions have forced a re-jig of next week’s NZB Standardbred Harness Racing Awards. 

Because Christchurch will remain at Alert Level Two until at least Wednesday, September 16 the awards two days earlier cannot proceed in their current format. 

More than 220 people had signalled their intention to attend the evening at Addington Raceway next Monday night (September 14) but gatherings cannot exceed 100 people under Alert Two protocols. 

That means that some people who wanted to go will have to miss out. 

“It’s a tricky situation,” said awards organiser Courtney Clarke, from Harness Racing New Zealand, “we would like everyone to be there but our hands are tied.” 

“We can’t have more than 100 people so we will have to limit the function to that number, so we are currently contacting the people who are no longer able to attend".

The awards will celebrate the finest achievers and achievements of a COVID-interrupted 2019-2020 season, including the coveted Horse of the Year. 

“Without wanting to give too much away there are very close battles in some of the categories and a couple of surprises,” says Clarke.  

The awards will be held in the Christian Cullen Lounge with doors opening at 6.00pm and the awards ceremony getting underway at 6.30pm. 

* We are currently looking at being able to live stream the event or parts the event, keep an eye on the HRNZ website for any updates regarding this*