The Waimate Trotting Club will return to their home track this season.
The meeting will be held on Sunday 25 March this year and will see racing action return to Waimate Racecourse Recreation Reserve for the first time since 2013. Following a severe wind storm that caused widespread damage that year the meeting was transferred to nearby Oamaru.
Since then the grandstand has been demolished and a new administration block put in place to help with the
race day amenities.
Club President Lex Williams is thrilled with the move back home.
“The club has been working really hard to get the meeting back home” said Williams. “The track has come back in great order, and we have had very good reports on it following inspection.”
He noted that not only was it good for the committee but had far reaching positive effects.
“We’ve had a lot of support from the community and some large businesses have stepped in to help us free of
charge which we are very grateful for.”
“It has also really helped us with finding sponsorship for our meeting by having the meeting at home. And we
expect a large turnout on the day from the locals.”
The feature race on the card will be the Waimate Cup and the race day is going to have an old fashioned sports
day theme.
“We’ll be having a huge range of contests from sack races for kids to gumboot throwing with some really great
prizes on offer,” said Williams.
“We encourage families and industry members to come along and enjoy the day
and the new facilities oncourse.”
Jess Smith