By Peter Jessup
Derby day at Ellerslie racecourse was a stunner, a friendly ramble that had everything from the finest in fashion and the fashionable to a fashion-free streaker as backdrop for the prize presentation.
Ellerslie on Boxing Day is one of the few places where the tattooed and black T-shirted can rub shoulders with the country's biggest bosses.
My-dad-built-the-stand Hugh Flether and nouveau racegoer Eric Watson were among those wandering around, racebook in hand.
But it is primarily a family day at the track on Boxing Day, with sun umbrellas and barbecues adding to the colourful dressmakers' creations to build a rarefied atmosphere on what is a now-rare big day for the racing industry.
So the man who did, has, or will dress many in the crowd, suit-hirer Frank
Casey, was content to queue with his daughter as she entered the fashion stakes while the crowd continued with the wash-up from the race he sponsors.
Last year's dress was "too conservative. I didn't feel at all comfortable in it," said Sarah Jane Casey.
On Saturday she was in a satin suit with gold lace overlay and sweeping pirate hat.
"Right now I'm trying not to knock people out," she said as she swivelled her head. Plenty thought she was a knockout; the judges disagreed.
Out the back in the stables, co-owners Moira and Graeme Crerar and Robert and Jan Seabrook were consoling their horse, Scarlet Runner, a well-beaten second-favourite in the fourth.
"I wish she could talk and tell us what went wrong," Moira Crerar said, high heels tiptoeing around Scarlet Runner's after-race produce as she and Jan Seabrook gave their "beanie" a cuddle.
Erika Takacs, who came from Wellington with an eye on the fashion awards, was another happy loser. Her short-shorts, cup bra and Cleopatra headgear drew plenty of attention.
"I've had a great reaction from the crowd but the judges didn't like it," she said, declining a passing punter's offer of help to get her get-up off, should she need it.
There was only double-sided tape holding everything in place she eplied, declaring herself happy to be on the end of plenty of compliments - "women, too, congratulating me for being so brave" - and happy to be up close enough at the birdcage to pat clerk of the course Bruce Stuart's horse.
Stuart is rearing his own grey. Meanwhile, racing "family" members Rex and Patsy Simm lend him their mount, Mighty Warrior.
"He's fed, groomed and ready and I just turn up and pick him up. I tried to give it up for a few years but once you've got horses in you blood, that's it," Stuart said.
With 220 television sets showing the races, there were plenty who did not leave the shelter of the 26 bars. But the majority were in the sunshine, and after eight races on a 26 degree day, punctuated by drink stops, they were happy to adopt the streaker who raced the home straight while the dignitaries were doing the post-Derby presentations.
Racing Minister Clem Simich must have been wondering if the Nats had announced another tax cut.
The loudest cheers of the day accompanied his and Australian jockey Damien Oliver's address as the man in wraparound sunglasses and sandals - and that's all - ran 200m to the finish line, performed a diving try-scoring move and sauntered off. Then he saw the security guards coming, hurdled the inside fence
and was gone, caught later but not charged. Bad parking was the only problem police reported.
After the Derby the crowd began to thin, those who had backed the Clydesdales heading for home.
Horn-blower Mason Elliot was relieved to get to the 10th and last race. There were no bum notes among the calls to race which he had trumpeted, despite the increasingly vocal support and commentary from a crew in the lawn bar.
It is Elliot's fourth summer racing carnival and "every year you get a few. I don't let it put me off." Admitting to blowing bad ones would be "giving away secrets," he said. "I've never broken down."
And sure, it's only a few notes and two breaths of air but there are 32,000 watching, a big crowd for any brass band player.
The racing club was happy with the on-course turnover of $1.6 million. Punters who followed the Herald's tips would have been pleased too, racing writer Mike Dillon picking five winners, including So Casual in the Derby, and four econd and three thirds.
Even the bloke with the most unenviable job of all was enjoying himself on Saturday. Birdcage attendant Liam Carnell is happy to remove the offending matter the horses drop ecause it keeps him close to the ction.
"It's part of the job and it means I get to be nearer to the horses than anyone," he said, splatting another shovelful on to the flowerbeds.
Pictured: Scarlet Runner with owners Moira Crerar, (left) and Jan Seabrook. HERALD PICTURE/ RUSSELL SMITH
Horse Racing: Winners not only grinners at Ellerslie
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