Dannevirke: Lacklustre race turnout disappoints

Woodville trainer Janna Pettit (right), and her strapper, cheer home Veininsky in the third race at Woodville. Veininsky, ridden by Jess Shackelton came in first and another of Pettit's horses, Jump for Joy was placed third in race six.

The thunder of hooves was more of a quiet patter at the Woodville-Pahiatua Racing Club's New Year meeting, with just 34 horses entered on the six-race card.

"Betting was well down on previous years, but the car park was chokka as people turned out to enjoy a family day," club president Joe Dodunski said. "Yes, the day was disappointing horse-wise and we have had to move our traditional cup race to the rural meeting in April because of the lack of entries.

The Beaut, ridden by Jonathan Parkes, takes out the first race at the Woodville-Pahiatua Racing Club's New Year meeting. Second was Ooee and third Myminkcoat.

"But while betting was down with just six races on the card and a number of late scratchings, I've been told money wagered on the meeting was likely to have been the biggest per horse anywhere.

The Busby, Erickson and Crosswell families from Woodville, Feilding and Pahiatua enjoying a day out at the races.

"There were a couple of issues which meant trainers didn't bring their horses. We needed water for our track, which was very dry and trainers don't seem to like certain tracks. Rain forecast for the Wednesday before the meeting didn't come, so short of having monsoon buckets to flood the course, there was nothing we could do.

"There were six race meetings around the district in seven days too, which didn't help."

Mr Dodunski said since the yearling sales were moved from Trentham (Wellington) to Karaka (in the Waikato), in the 1980s trainers have moved their stables north.

"Even three or four South Island trainers have moved to Auckland as well," he said.

Peter Harris, son of legendary Woodville trainer Jock Harris, said he felt for the Woodville Club.

"I feel sorry for the Woodville-Pahiatua Racing Club because the club has been held back, but hopefully everyone will get behind it anyway," he said. "This New Year meeting was once the lead-up to the Oaks and the Trentham Stakes and has played a very important part in the history of racing in New Zealand."

And while many trainers took their horses elsewhere, Woodville's Janna Pettit was thrilled with the success of two horses from her stable just down the road from the racecourse.

Veininsky was first in race three, with Jump for Joy, third in the last race on the card.

"Veininsky is a very complex horse, but I'm thrilled today," she told the Dannevirke News.

Lynne Rait from Wellington usually has horses lined up at the Woodville meeting, but not this year.

Lynne and her husband John have an emotional connection to the Woodville track where Fairway Wish had her first outing, but the horse has now been retired to the showring.

"We love attending this meeting and we're happy to be here even without any horses entered. I'm disappointed by the small field and the lack of the cup race, but we'll always support this club," John said.

With plenty of activities for the children and the Great New Zealand Sausage Festival as part of race day, Mr Dodunski said he hopes to grow the New Year meeting despite the lack of support from trainers this year.

More than 500 votes were cast in the sausage festival, with a traditional beef, stout and garlic snarler from Scotty's Meats in Martinborough taking out the supreme award. A roast lamb and caramalised onion sausage from Harris Meats won the gourmet category.