Top-class bangers will be winners at the Woodville/Pahiatua Racing Club's New Year meeting tomorrow.
But no, it won't be the also-rans from the track making their way on to the barbecues, instead the best traditional sausages will compete with gourmet varieties such as beef and blue cheese.
The Great Kiwi Sausage Festival is the brainchild of Woodville butcher John Shannon and along with top-class racing, live music and free entertainment, promises to add tonnes of flavour to the race day.
"It's pretty hard to beat a great sausage and although I'd like to keep this festival fairly local, I would like to grow the idea throughout the racing industry," he said. "Perhaps there will come a day when regional winners compete against each other for the tastiest banger."
The first festival was won last year by Whariti Meats from Woodville from a field of four and Mr Shannon is hopeful seven sausage-makers will take part tomorrow.