Big opening weekend for Blue September

Harness Racing New Zealand's Blue September campaign has got off to a fast start, with over $7000 raised over the opening weekend.

This is the third year that HRNZ has been involved, with 12 ambassadors, each wearing their distinctive blue pants, raising money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation every time they win a race during the month.

HRNZ and clubs donate $100 per win and each driver has their own sponsors and supporters as well.

Six of the 12 drivers managed to get wins between Friday and Sunday with Jonny Cox and Blair Orange bagging doubles.

Cox won with Macandrew Aviator at Addington on Friday and with Edge Of Reason at Ashburton yesterday, while Orange, who has just returned from the world drivers' championships in Europe, saluted with Live On Legend (Addington) and then Idle Stuartia (Ashburton).

Cox has already eclipsed the one winning drive he had during the campaign last year.

The other winning drivers were Mark Hurrell and brothers Nathan and Matty Williamson at Winton and Robbie Close at Addington.

Money was also raised through donations at Ashburton yesterday and at the campaign's official launch dinner at Addington on Friday night.

All up more than $7000 has been raised so far, a huge start to a campaign that last year netted just on $50,000.

Racing continues this week with Cambridge and Wyndham on Thursday, Addington on Friday and then on the grass at Methven on Sunday.

For anyone with any queries about Blue September, including ways to donate to the campaign, please contact courtney@hrnz.co.nz