Everyone has already seen last season's races and knows the results. We know who the winners were, we all saw them.
Yet, all over New Zealand, at a provincial and national level, hundreds gather to celebrate the achievements of both horse and human of the past season.
Award winners are announced and few are a real surprise, yet the audience sits and waits with bated breath as envelopes are opened.
Given how blatantly obvious most of the results are, it could be easy, especially at a local level, to skip over such ceremonies and let those wins and the stake money banked be enough to satisfy last season's big winners.
But thankfully, in this province anyway, the opposite is the case. Next month, Otago's biggest winners and achievers will be celebrated at each code's awards evening.
Thankfully, committees go to the trouble of arranging these awards because they are a celebration.
For many it is one of the rare occasions when everyone can meet and participants can enjoy each other's company without the pressures of work and racedays.
For me the most special part of a racing awards evening is celebrating the volunteers who keep the industry going - those dedicated people who show up at every raceday, committee meeting or working bee and give up hours of their time.
Often they do it with out pay or reward. Often they wouldn't take it if they were to be paid for their time.
It is important these people are recognised and I am glad both Otago award ceremonies will do this. Because no matter or who they are or how they help racing, one thing is for sure: the industry simply wouldn't survive without them.
I wonder if those who are more richly rewarded appreciate what the unsung heroes of the sport do, and if those who work for the racing codes or the racing board appreciate what hold this insdustry together. I wonder if they realise that without them, the house of cards would topple over.
Perhaps they could investigate how racing could attract, look after and keep its valuable volunteers.
Let that not detract from our looming local awards, though. I would like to wish all nominees the best of luck for next weekend's Otago thoroughbred industry awards.
And, of course, the same for the Otago harness awards nominees, who are due to be announced later next month.
Happy trails
