As a young girl, Spence was taken to the Wingatui races by her grandmother Lou Jackman as a birthday treat, and it ignited her love for horse racing.
She grew up riding horses, and watching her sisters ride as well, but never really took her passion any further than that.
Other aspects of her life took precedence, such as working hard with her husband, Lance, to found their business, Chipmunks Playland and Cafe, and raising their children, Maddy and Aidan.
But her love for horses never wavered, and she used to help her friends search for horses — "they always said I had a good eye for horses" — through the years.
About eight years ago, Spence decided to get into the horse racing industry herself, starting Kerri Spence Bloodstock, which now has about nine horses.
"I got back into it because I’ve always loved racing and bloodstock horses — I’ve always loved it," Spence said.
"I decided to go up to Karaka and buy two horses. The first one won six races and the second one won two.
"I really enjoy the bloodstock, I really enjoy the racing and I enjoy the community."
Every year she went on livestock tours, sourcing horses throughout the country, and had formed a strong connection with South Auckland trainer Shaun Clotworthy.
Spence and Clotworthy originally connected through rugby in Dunedin — Spence’s family have a long history with the Harbour club — and later went into shares in a couple of horses together, eventually selling a couple to Australia.
They have linked up yet again in the same slot syndicate for the inaugural NZB Kiwi race at Ellerslie, as part of Champions Day, on Saturday.
It is tagged as New Zealand’s richest sporting event, with $4.5 million on the line — a $3.5m stake and a $1m bonus pool.
Spence is the only Dunedin slot owner, and her syndicate also includes Rayner and Lynn Bonnington, Terry and Jane Lines, brothers Frank, Andrew and Milan Matijasevich, Peter Pascoe, Michael Scott, and Emma Clotworthy.
After initially selecting Dealt With, from trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood, the horse was a late withdrawal this week after pulling up sore following track work on Saturday. Dealt With has been replaced by stablemate Zormella.
Spence heard about the NZB Kiwi through White Robe Lodge — who had been very supportive of her — and said the race had created a buzz in racing.
"There’s a few going from the South Island, there’s a few coming from here, there’s a group coming from Canterbury — it seems to be attracting a lot of attention," Spence said.
"It’s going to be a huge day. It’s fantastic for the industry and it’s fantastic for the trainers, for the owners and for the racing in general."
While it was a big moment for the racing industry, Spence wanted to enjoy the experience.
"It’s really important that we do enjoy the journey — that’s been our motto.
"Enjoy the journey because in the end ... what’s going to be is going to be.
"It’s a lot of fun. We’re all getting a little bit more mature in years, so why not."
Racing had always been about the people, passion and the horses for Spence — "I’ve got the joy that it’s only one piece in my lifestyle" — and that transferred into her new venture.
Keen to get more women involved in the industry, Spence is in the process of getting her next initiative, Girls Get Racing, off the ground.
"I want a niche community empowering women to have a bit of joy and fun."
It was a way for more women to buy shares in horses or "dip their toes in and enjoy the community", and her daughter and Clotworthy’s daughter, Tatum, would be involved.
"You never know where it could go.
"I believe in everything they buy and I want them to share the journey with me.
"It’s a little bit different. It’s a passion."
