The first harness race meeting of the season in Invercargill hosted by the Invercargill Harness Racing Club takes place at Ascot Park Raceway on Saturday 21st September and will include some very special features.
Harness Racing New Zealand and the Invercargill Harness Racing Club are combining to host an Owners Day on course while New Zealand’s oldest harness racing syndicate will be on course to celebrate a significant milestone.
Standardbred owners will be hosted in an Owners Area where they will enjoy food and beverage and prize draws with the major prize a 12 month insurance package up to the value of $40,000 from New Zealand Bloodstock. The event is for all owners and those interested in becoming owners.
One lucky person will be drawn to become an owner of Elva Jaccka in Race 8 of the card. The winner will get to visit the horse in the stables area, meet and chat with the owners, trainers and breeders, get their photo taken with their starter, watch it race and enjoy some hospitality in the Presidents Room, a great package.
Meanwhile New Zealand’s oldest harness racing syndicate, the Setarip Syndicate, will be on course to celebrate their 50th Anniversary and will sponsor the feature race on the programme. The syndicate was formed on 19 September 1969 and still has two of the original members, Joe Wilson the Syndicate Manager and Clark Neil. The name Setarip is Pirates spelt backwards and is a nod to the rugby club that the original syndicate members came from. The syndicate uses the clubs black and gold colours.
The syndicate has enjoyed 18 individual winners for a total of 25 wins, the first coming 11 years after the syndicate was formed. It was another 13 years before they enjoyed their second win.
Nine races are scheduled for the day with the first race scheduled for 12.27pm while admission to the course is free!