Beach races a big winner

Surf, sand and beachfront gallops attracted more than 3500 people to the Castlepoint Racing Club's annual picnic meeting on Saturday.

Club secretary Emma Gardiner said the large crowd enjoyed "a fantastic day" of beach racing and surfside picnics and had started turning up for the racing just before noon.

"With everything else on at the weekend - the Martinborough Fair and the Golden Shears- I was absolutely stoked that so many chose to come to the races and how well the day ran, which had a lot to do with our awesome race stewards."

Mrs Gardiner said the start of the eight-race meeting had been delayed for about an hour while the tide receded and a round of children's games had been completed ahead of the first race instead of between races.

She said the overcast weather on Saturday had been perfect for picnics - and for the horses.

New Plymouth rider Caley Myers was thrown from her mount during one race, but otherwise the day had been completed without incident.

Ms Myers and her mount McCulley avoided injury during the incident.

The Castlepoint Cup was won by The Rose from the stable of Kevin Myers, a Wanganui-based trainer who regularly supports the popular beach race meeting.

Betting at the equalisator meeting had been robust, Mrs Gardiner said.