Millionaire racing sponsor badly hurt in late-night clash

Sam Kelt

Millionaire Hawke's Bay businessman Sam Kelt suffered serious head injuries in a violent clash with boy racers in Mt Maunganui early on Saturday.

The confrontation took place on the Mount's Marine Parade about 12.45am, Hawke's Bay Today reported.

Sources said Mr Kelt had a fractured skull and that the bones behind his eye socket were fractured after he was punched, fell to the ground and was kicked.

Tauranga Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner told the newspaper police believed Mr Kelt became involved in an argument with people "loosely referred to as boy racers".

"It appears he has either fallen down or has been assaulted," he said.

Police had arrived immediately after the incident and Mr Kelt had asked police not to investigate. Mr Turner said Mr Kelt's condition had since deteriorated and his family wanted police to follow up the incident.

A St John Ambulance spokesman said staff were called to the landmark Oceanside Twin Towers on Marine Parade, where they found a man with head injuries.

"He was treated by St John advanced paramedics and transported to Tauranga Hospital in a serious condition," said Ken Hansen, area manager for the Midlands Region of St John.

A Bay of Plenty District Health Board spokeswoman described Mr Kelt's condition as stable.

A family spokeswoman declined to comment on Mr Kelt's condition or the circumstances surrounding his admission to hospital.

Mr Kelt is best known as the sponsor of New Zealand's richest horse race, the $1 million Kelt Capital Stakes, and has plans to increase the stake to $2 million next year.

- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY