Entrants in the Best Dressed Lady line-up during Cup Day at Addington Raceway, Christchurch. Photo / Simon Baker
Thousands of North Islanders have left the office behind to join the giant party in Christchurch this week - and the city is welcoming them, and their cash, with open arms.
New Zealand Cup and Show Week combines the country's biggest week of horse racing, the country's biggest
A&P show, high fashion, music and a plentiful supply of alcohol to create a city-wide carnival.
More than 160,000 people are expected to attend events this year - more than 13 per cent of whom will come from the North Island and overseas.
Rob Carr, of the Auckland Trotting Club, manages three horse-racing syndicates that have drawn about 150 North Islanders down to Christchurch, and is expecting a big week.
The members from Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and Wellington have met up with about 30 from Christchurch and the West Coast to watch their horses race.
Some are retired, but most have taken time off work for the week's festivities.
"The camaraderie between members is just fantastic," Mr Carr said.
"It's a big week and is a great week's racing. It's the pinnacle of racing really."
He admits the trip is as much about socialising as the racing.
"There are all these names and faces you only see at this time of the year."
The week's events will inject about $30 million into the Canterbury economy.
The New Zealand Trotting Cup held yesterday is the first race in New Zealand to break the $1 million mark in stakes.
Spokeswoman Jo Blair said the carnival week was the largest of its type in the country, and had a tradition stretching back 140 years.
"It has fast become a national iconic event for Christchurch where the city's hotels are booked out well in advance," she said.
"It is almost impossible to do business on the Tuesday - Cup Day - as many offices are out on course."
