As soon as the owner of the horse that wins the Clare Memorial Gold Cup is given their prize, it is taken right back off them.
The gold cup is so valuable it is kept under lock and key all year, only being taken to the races to be handed briefly to the winner, then taken back and a substitute trophy presented instead.
The cup attracted plenty of attention during its brief appearance yesterday at the Central Otago Racing Club's meeting at Omakau, where the 2000m Clare Memorial Gold Cup was the feature race.
It was won by Flag the Groom, owned by Bevan and Robyn Wilson, of Ashburton.
Mr Wilson, a former All Black who grew up in Omakau and now owns and trains horses, said it ''felt all right'' to be holding the Clare Cup, which he had won once before. Another horse he owned but did not train, Miss Royal, won the Clare Cup about 10 years ago.
Former Central Otago Racing Club president Garry McDonnell said the Clare Cup was so valuable it was impossible to estimate its value. It was made almost entirely of gold paid for by members of the club almost 90 years ago, and some said it was worth more than the Melbourne Cup.
Central Otago Racing Club president Tony Lepper said it was ''wonderful'' and ''fitting'' that the Wilsons' horse had won the Clare Cup.
''We still claim Bevan as a local.''
About 2000 people attended the race day, including former driver and trotting trainer Paul Gallagher, who wore his best suit for the day.
The lined three-piece suit (its waistcoat was replaced by a woollen jumper at the gallops because of cooler weather) was bought for him by fellow driver the late Robert Cameron in 1973.
The pair had been travelling from one race meet in Wellington to another in Invercargill and Cameron had told Mr Gallagher he needed some new attire.
''He told me I couldn't arrive on the course in my working clothes. So he bought me a three-piece suit for $200.''
The ''His Lordship'' brand suit had been worn on various occasions since then, including to his son's wedding.
Mr Gallagher also wore the suit on Monday to the Omakau trots, where he presented the cup to the winner of the Gallagher Family Gold Cup race.
The cup was named after his late father, driver and trotting trainer Peter Gallagher.
