And they're off

Preparing to race their horses and sulkies at the Wyndham Harness Racing Club Cromwell trotting meeting yesterday are (from left) Rachel Wallace (8), of Gore, Jade Findlay (7), of Milton, and Rocco O'Louglan, of Christchurch, with his grandmother Sue Allison, of Bannockburn. Photo by Diane Brown.

The 11-race event, held under the umbrella of the Wyndham Harness Racing Club, drew a large number of entries which kept the punters busy.

Wyndham club secretary Russell Freeman said this was the second year it had sponsored the racing at Cromwell as the Cromwell club did not have a totalisator licence for this meeting.

Both events had been very successful.

"We are focused on families and holiday time and all the entertainment for the kids is free," Mr Freeman said.

The Wyndham club runs five meetings a year and Southern Harness looks after 42 meetings in the Cromwell, Roxburgh and Southland district.

Mr Freeman said there was always good support from the trainers, many of whom camped out at the racecourse and used it as their base over the Christmas holidays to attend the trotting meets around the district.

"Trainer Phil Williamson and his family have been coming here for their summer holidays for years from Oamaru and he brings about 12 to 14 horses with him.

He can camp out, train on the track and attend the meetings over the summer."