Wingatui gallops
Tuesday, December 26
Off-the-track entertainment — Live music plus lots of free entertainment for young ones including a children’s fashion in the field event.
Admission info — Adults $10. Picnic patch $70. Mini marquees $350.
Helpful hints — There are plenty of spots to park up for a post-Christmas picnic along the Wingatui straight. Pack the leftovers, but not your alcohol as there is a policy of no BYO.
Kurow gallops
Saturday, December 30
First race: 12.45pm
Otago racegoers have three days to recover from a huge day at Wingatui before a trek slightly north to Kurow. Of eight carded races, the Kurow Cup open handicap over 1400m will be the feature. Kurow has an on-track atmosphere to rival any summer meeting. Bring an umbrella for shade and blanket so you can stretch out on the grass embankment and enjoy!
Off-the-track entertainment — Cromwell band The Gator Boys will entertain the crowd with live music. The club will also host an extra race with a twist. Adults will sprint out of the starting stalls to Dash For Cash up the Kurow straight for $600 in prizes.
Admission info — General admission $10, under 18s free. Picnic areas on application.
Helpful hints — Take your picnic gear. Kurow has a brilliant atmosphere to chill out on their grass embankment and enjoy the racing. Just don’t forget to take an umbrella for shade.
Waikouaiti gallops
Monday, January 1
First race: 12.37pm This popular raceday attracts a large crowd of Dunedinites who make the journey over the Kilmog. The highlight on the track will be the Waikouaiti Cup, an open handicap over 1975m.
Off-the-track entertainment — There is the chance for racegoers to strut their stuff in the fashion in the field competition. There’s also live music on course, a punters’ club and kids’ entertainment.
Admission info — General admission $10, under 18s free. Marquees on application.Helpful hints — Take the family. The picturesque Waikouaiti course offers racegoers a range of great vantage points so relax and take in the races.
Omakau trots
Tuesday, January 2
First race: 12.30pm
This meeting, which kicks off back-to-back racedays at the Omakau course, always attracts some of the best of the South Island’s equine talent. The 2600m Central Otago Trotting Cup can lay claim to being the province’s best harness race. The club’s free-for-all trot attracts a similarly classy line-up of squaregaiters, too.
Off-the-track entertainment — Players from the Highlanders and All Blacks will be on course with signed rugby balls and season passes to be won. There is also a huge range of prizes on offer in the club’s Ultimate Weekend Package competition.
Women can win a whopping $1500 first prize in the fashion in the field competition.
Admission info — Adults $10, under 18s free. Marquees POA.
Helpful hints — Get there early! The Omakau trots are always well patronised and that means there can be long queues for betting. It can help if you organise your bets several races in advance or place bets on for multiple races at once. Shaded areas will be at an absolute premium, so get there early to get a good vantage point.
Omakau gallops
Wednesday, January 3
First race: 1.42pm
A day after the trots, the gallopers have their go at Omakau. On the track the middle-distance horses will do battle in the Clare Memorial Gold Cup. The sprinters get their shot at the Central Otago Summer Plate open handicap.
Off-the-track entertainment — Many of the entertainers from the previous day’s meeting stay for the gallops.
Admission info — Adults $10, under 18s free.
Helpful hints — If you’re not into the more hectic scene of the day-before’s harness racing at Omakau, then this day is for you. It promises a relaxed atmosphere with quality racing.
Roxburgh trots
Thursday, January 4
First race: 1.03pm The Roxburgh course provides one of the best racing views in South with racegoers being able to get a close look at the 1000m track. The Roxburgh Cup is the club’s flagship race. It attracted open-class star Mossdale Connerlast year and he duly obliged. Last year’s meeting was hit with rain, blustery wind and even hail, but surely this year it will be back to being scorching hot at Roxburgh!
Off-the-track entertainment — Look out for the fashion in the field competitions in a range of categories. There will be live music and a huge range of children’s entertainment. There is also a lucky punter competition for losing tickets.
Admission info — Adults $10, under 18s free. Helpful hints — Horses starting at Roxburgh are often coming off runs from other very recent meetings on the Otago-Southland circuit. That means that form is sometimes not included in racebooks and formguides for the meeting. Check the ‘ODT’ racing page for the most up-to-date info to help you make your selections.
Cromwell trots
Saturday, January 6
First race: 12.12pm Harness racing switches to the grass surface of the Cromwell course for this meeting, which is run by the Wyndham Harness Racing Club. That means a huge crowd of Southlanders will be there, plus all sorts of other holidaymakers as well as the locals. Eleven races are programmed, with the highlight the Cromwell Cup for class two and faster pacers.
Off-the-track entertainment — Look out for the fashion in the field contest, an ‘Abs For The Lads’ competition and prizes for the best car-park picnic.
Admission info — General admission, adults $10, under 18s free. Marquees $345.
Helpful hints — For those trying to back a winner, look out for horses who have had success on grass tracks before. Statistics for each runner are listed in formguides which detail a horse’s previous starts on grass tracks, and their starts on rain-affected grass tracks. That was handy info two years ago when it rained on race day which was not to the liking of all horses.
For those wanting even more, try:
Sunday, December 24, Tapanui gallops (at Gore).
Wednesday, December 27, Gore trots.
Thursday, December 28, Timaru gallops.
Sunday, December 31, Winton trots.
Friday, January 5, Timaru trots.
Wednesday, January 10, Oamaru trots.
