Racing: Enthusiasts fly south for Pike River fundraiser

Tony Lee says racing people can be very generous when the chips are down. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

Tony Lee's enthusiasm for racing has never been in doubt.

The most casual follower of New Zealand racing would have been entertained by the booming voice of the premier commentator over the past two decades.

But even one of racing's greatest cheerleaders admits his love for the industry has been reinforced by what he has seen in the past two weeks.

Lee has spent that time on the South Island's West Coast overseeing the Racing For The Coast fundraising effort, which is set to raise close to $100,000 for the families of the 29 miners lost in the Pike River disaster.

It was Lee who came up with the concept after being deeply affected by the mining tragedy.

He brought many racing industry participants on board and talked the New Zealand Racing Board into donating 5c from every off-course ticket placed on West Coast race meetings since Boxing Day into the fund.

Then northern jockeys like James McDonald and Grant Cooksley made rare appearances on the Coast while racing enthusiasts from Wellington and Auckland flew south to support Lee's efforts.

One crew, from Wellington, paid their own way down, bringing a van load of meat and bread to set up a huge barbecue at Saturday's meeting at Omoto racecourse, with all profits going to the fund.

"To see guys do something like that is really special," said Lee on Saturday.

"So many people have pitched in and it reminds you of what racing people are like.

"Sure, we all have our moments, but when the chips are down racing people are very generous and we have seen that in the last two weeks."

Lee has fallen in love with the Coast in his time there, saying the hospitality and old-style racing has rekindled his love for the industry.

"It has been great for me, too. It is a different sort of racing down here, very community-based and all the visitors have loved it.

"But the most important thing is we have been able to raise some money for people who need it."

Lee says that final figure will approach $100,000 by the time the final accounts are done.

"It will be a month before we know the exact amount but it has been a heart-warming experience."

While the Racing For The Coast concept probably started too late for more North Island trainers to change their plans and support it fully, regular Coast visitors Kenny and Lisa Rae recorded two more wins on Saturday to cap another successful circuit.

"It's great racing down here and a wonderful place to visit," said Kenny Rae before heading home to Ruakaka.

"And you have to admire what Tony has done because the people down here deserve racing's support."

But the trip wasn't a total success for Lee. Last week he bought a 750cc motorcycle on the Coast that he had had his eye on for a while.

But an accident involving parking on a hill, the heavy bike and an over-extended leg left him limping around Greymouth for much of the week.

"I only had the thing for one day and I had an accident. My wife suggests I get rid of it when we get home," he laughed.

RACING FOR COAST

* The Racing For The Coast concept was devised to provide money for the families of the lost Pike River miners.

* Premier commentator Tony Lee was the driving force.

* The idea has raised close to $100,000.