Day at the races fun for all the family

BIG PULL: Star attractions at the New Year's Day Races in Hastings yesterday were an array of family and children's events, including this tug o' war. PHOTOS/DUNCAN BROWN

Savita Teriele isn't prone to throwing her footwear around at the races.

And husband Andre might not have approved.

But yesterday was an exception. It was Andre's birthday, and when when she biffed her sandal up the straight at the New Year's Day races in Hastings, she won $600.

Mrs Teriele, who was originally from Lautoka but has lived in New Zealand for 12 years, conceded her triumph came as a bit of surprise, although she had a "lucky" day at the races before she joined the rush of about 150 for the late-afternoon Shoe Toss, in which the prize would be paid to the person who tossed their shoe nearest to a flag about 40m away.

Stepping-out with 10-year-old son Jack, she scored a direct hit, which proved an impossible challenge for those competitors who followed.

"It was something to do for a bit of fun with the kids," she said. As for hitting the flag, she said: "I thought I only had to go past the flag. That's all."

The Terieles were among about 5800 people who flocked to the course for the Interislander Summer Festival of Racing meeting at Hastings. It looked more like a day at the beach without the sand as gazebos and tents sprawled across the main lawn and carparks.

Racing Centre manager Jason Fleming said it was obvious it would be a big day when the main public carpark off Market St was full more than half-an-hour before the first race, which started at 12.48pm.

But Hastings Top 10 Holiday Park campers Mark and Lynette Rouse, of Waikanae, and Kevin and Viv Giles, of Wellington, left their run until late, waltzing past all the early arrivals to still get a place to pitch their awning near the finish line.

This was "more like it," they reckoned. Once regulars at Trentham, they'd tired a bit of the "corporate" thing that changed their enjoyment of the races.

"This is great," said Mrs Giles, who with the rest of the group was enjoying a flutter, pooling the bets and the proceeds.

Rae Carton, of Hastings, was enjoying her first day at the races, and her first punting on the gee-gees apart from staff sweeps on the Melbourne Cup.

Beginners luck. She collected on six of the seven races, but she, Alan Waerea and Doug Wright were also making money as a three-piece group providing the music in the Horlicks Lounge.

It doesn't pay all the bills though.

"We're looking for work," Mr Waerea said.

Mr Fleming said that despite the small race programme - with only seven races and 69 horses entered - betting turnover was expected to be about the same as for the New Year's Day meeting 12 months ago.

About $250,000 was bet on-course, with extra windows open, including the historic main-tote round-house, which is now the home of a fitness centre.

It was an ideal day with the temperature about 24C before the racing started. The favourite for the first race, Magic Moment got punters off to just the start they needed by winning.

By the end it was just the day Hawke's Bay Racing wanted. There'd been no problems, and Mr Fleming said an empty infield an hour afterwards, along with a cleansheet as racegoers passed through police alcohol checks on the way out, showed everyone had come prepared for a good day out and a safe trip home.

"They must have had designated sober drivers. Last year there would have been a few cars left behind."