West Coast hosts Teal Pants finales  

The town of light is turning into the town of teal – for a day. 

Sunday’s harness racing meeting at Reefton will mark the last day of the annual Teal Pants fund-raiser for ovarian cancer and all racegoers are encouraged to play their part. 

“Let’s cover the whole racecourse in teal” is the theme of the day  

Those wearing teal will also be eligible to win a total of $500 in cash prizes by filling out an entry form next to the birdcage.   

In recent years Teal Day has become a hugely popular part of the Reefton meeting, with the club aiming for it to be better and bigger this weekend.   

Reefton is known as the “town of light” after it turned on electric street lighting before any other town in the southern hemisphere in 1888. 

Before the campaign’s finale at Reefton, 80 kilometres away,  the Westport Trotting Club will also get in on the act at its meeting on Friday.   

The club will put $1000 into the punters’ challenge and any profits will go to the campaign. Guest selectors will also have five $50 each way bets , with any profits going to the cause. Race sponsor FT Dooley Limited will also donate $1000 if a female driver wins the Kawatiri Cup while Robert and John Dunn from Diamond Racing Stables will give $500 for any race won by a female driver. 

The campaign started on February 1 with Harness Racing New Zealand , Woodlands Stud and many other clubs and individuals donating money for every race won by a female driver. 

Teal Pants is currently into its fourth year in this country. Last year it raised $50,000.