Countdown on to Hororata's big day

Hororata Trotting Club president Jamie Gameson can see no reason why the current popularity of grass track racing won’t rub off on them when they host their annual meeting at Methven on Sunday. 

Mt Harding has been the club’s “home” track since 2014, after previous stints at Addington, Ashburton and their own track until 1984 (at the Hororata Domain).  

“We’re expecting a good day,” says Gameson, “the grass tracks have been going crazy, everyone’s flocking to them.” 

Among the highlights of the day will be a Nevele R fillies heat  and the Hororata Cup.     

The first Hororata Cup was held in 1967 and won by Merry Morning  for the driver-trainer combo of Jack Carmichael and Felix Newfield .  

Teal Pants, the annual fund-raiser for ovarian cancer research, will also have a strong presence, with collectors asking for donations from racegoers. There will also be a teal-themed  Fashion in the Field competition. 

“This has been building well in recent years. We’d expect over 20 people getting involved.”   

As for expectations about what the day will bring Gameson is confident it will hold its own with similar grasstrack meetings this summer. 

“We would rapt if we hit a million (off-course turnover) and between 45 and 65 (thousand)   on course would be great.”  

Gameson, who’s trained over 200 winners since starting out 20 years ago, is standing down as president this year though he plans to remain on the committee. 

“We have a great bunch of people on our committee, the club is in good hands.”  

First race starts at 12 noon.