The final meeting of the Whangarei Racing Club for 2017 will be the Christmas at the Races event on Tuesday, December 19 where a six-race programme is expected to be carded. The corporate response has been very strong with all function areas including an additional Corona Courtyard marquee fully booked.
The Steve Haywood Master Jeweller Fashions in the Field is a feature of the day and provides an ideal opportunity for a local entrant to win the great prize from Steve Haywood but also free entry to the Ellerslie Viva Prix de Fashions in March 2018. Last year's Ruakaka winner won the national final at Ellerslie and went on to represent New Zealand in Melbourne.
The club is now led by chairman Mike Beazley with his deputy Karen Houlihan following the retirement of Shayne Heape who had provided excellent stewardship for the past four years. Local hotelier Evan Phillips has joined the board for the first time.
In a changed approach the club will present annual racing awards based on the calendar year of 2017 rather than the racing season that starts in August to reflect the breeding season. A number of those awards are resolved with the final meeting of the season not able to change the result but the apprentice and visiting trainer awards will be subject to the results at the December 19 race meeting.
The two leading local stables have dominated the training results with the Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs team dominating with 31 winners at the course so far, this season. That tally places them well ahead of the Rae Racing stables of Kenny and Lisa Rae and Krystal Williams with a total of seven winners.