Racing 2020/21 Season
Monday 5 April 2021
The Club’s Easter Monday meeting concluded the season with full fields and fine if rather windy weather. We welcomed a good crowd on course and saw again the highly competitive racing that is a feature of Motukarara harness racing. The day gave us the opportunity to thank all our trainers, drivers and stable hands for their support during the season, with our traditional April barbeque that as always was well received by all participating.
A race earlier John Dunn, who had already secured the Driver of the Season prize, drove his 100th winner of the season on RocknSnap. The race for the most tightly-assessed trotters, the Morrie Molloy Memorial Trot, went to Sally Lindenny for Gerard O’Reilly and Kevin Townley.
That concludes a memorable racing season for the club at Motukarara. This season also concludes Wayne may’s term as Club President. Wayne will be missed in the role, but with Cam Bray stepping into his shoes we will remain in good hands heading into the future.
We extend our appreciation to all our supporters, and look forward to seeing everyone again when the 2021/22 harness racing season rolls around.
Sunday 21 March 2021
Our March meeting, BPC Cars Race Day, continued the pattern of fantastic public and sponsor support the club has experienced this season. The Autumn sun shone and the kids on course had a ball with the diversions on offer. There were eleven races on the track with the usual big, competitive fields, some very close finishes and the expected big upset or two.
The feature pacing race the BPC Cars Handicap pace was won by Manjimup, driven by Ross Cameron to give the Steven Harding-trained horse his third win in eight starts. The race for the most tightly-assessed trotters was the Hoi Polloi Hair Design Trot. Call This Fun prevailed at good odds for Allan Ford.
The Club’s on-track competitions are really heating up now, with just one meeting to run on Easter Monday.
Sunday 24 January 2021
We concluded our 2021 Summer of Racing at Motukarara with our January meeting, another hugely successful occasion when the sun shone and the people came to enjoy the day’s activities. There were eleven races on the track with big, competitive fields and some juicy dividends, which would have made some of the punters on course very happy.
Kidz Karts Canterbury were out in force, what a great initiative that is for encouraging the youngsters and teaching them so much about horse care and handling. Off the track Motukarara’s traditional family attractions were all there: pony rides, bouncy castle, the bungy and more. John McCabe’s music added atmosphere as it always does.
The day’s feature race was the Canterbury Trotting Owners’ Association Motukarara Cup, for horses rated R55+. Second favourite Quarterback prevailed, driven by junior driver Alana Cameron, who also won the junior drivers’ race sponsored by Selwyn District Council.
Tuesday 29 December 2020
Our traditional race meeting between Christmas and New Year draws the biggest crowd of the club season, and 2020 was no exception. Fine weather and grounds in great condition greeted everyone who came to enjoy the action aplenty: twelve competitive races on the track and all the fun of the fair off it.
The day’s feature race was the Paul Renwick Joinery Motukarara Xmas Cup, for horses rated R55-R90. The race finish was sensational with a dead heat between the up and coming 3yo Got You Covered, driven by John Dunn/trained by Robert Dunn), and in-form favourite Gilligan’s Island (Sheree Tomlinson/Graham Court).
Sunday 22 November 2020
Our second meeting of the 2020/21 season was billed as ‘Xmas at the Races’, and while the weather didn’t play its part, Santa Claus was there to provide enjoyment for the young and not-so-young on course. The meeting comprised ten races with good competition and plenty of close, exciting finishes.
The main race the Crate & Barrel Leeston Mobile Pace, for horses rated R52-R62, went to the well-supported Copperhead Rose (John Morrison/Greg Manson) while in the Leo May Memorial Trot for R50-R59 trotters, Escargo (Gerard O’Reilly/Kevin Townley) prevailed.
Sunday 27 September 2020
Our first meeting of 2020/21 was Alabar Race Day held Sunday 27 September. The feature was the club’s most prestigious event, the Majestic Son D. G. Jones Memorial Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup. Congratulations to everyone connected with One Apollo, who took out the Group 3 race from Heavyweight Hero and Woodstone. Watch race here.