MACCA LODGE is getting in behind the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting club’s efforts to attract more southern-trained horses to Addington during Cup Week.
Horses from the south have traditionally played a significant role in the biggest harness racing carnival of the year, but their numbers have been tending to drop off. So last year, on Show Day, the Met programmed a race solely for horses trained in Otago and Southland and called it “the South of the Waitaki River” race. It drew a strong field and was won by the Tony Barron-trained Phoenix Warrior.
The Met have decided to programme the $20,000 race again this year with Macca Lodge as the sponsor. And this November southern commentator Dave McDonald will be calling the race.
The club built on this idea with a “South of the Waitaki” winter series in which Panspacificflight gelding Wick won two heats and finished second in the final.