HRNZ MARKETING
After an illustrious and consistent career nine-year-old trotting mare Sarah Palin will make her final statement this Sunday.
On what has been dubbed by connections ‘The Sarah Palin Farewell Tour’ racegoers have been showing up on race day to celebrate a horse that has been recognized as an honest campaigner. And has provided so many thrills for those associated with her long and humble career.
A winner of ten races, Sarah Palin is in foal and connections have targeted Waimate to be her last start on what has become a popular farewell tour. Crowds lined the fences at Westport and Reefton to applaud the mare as she graced their tracks for the final time.
Sarah Palin was served by Bacardi Lindy in December and since then picked up a win and a third at Waikouaiti and placings at Amberley and Oamaru.
She’s been an honest competitor having raced from ages three to nine, and been a solid running mate picking up 50 placings to go alongside the ten wins thus far in 183 starts.
Her connections will be there to send her off, and Seven Sharp’s Michael Holland is planning on being there to film a story on Sarah Palin’s last race.
Holland was intrigued by the story, and is looking to capture the emotion that goes along side being involved in a race horse, especially with one that has been such a consistent part of harness racing in her career.
There will also be an opportunity to win a five percent share in Sarah Palin for the day, a great prize given she was successful at the meeting last year when it was held at Oamaru. Remarkably at the Waimate meeting the year before she was second but also won at the Waimate meeting in 2015. A stellar record, and fitting that she should end her racing career at the meeting.
The public are encouraged to attend the meeting to celebrate Sarah Palin’s last race, with posters of the mare available oncourse, and also celebrate the fact the club is finally back on home soil.
The Waimate Trotting Club will return to their home track for the first time in five years this Sunday and Club President Lex Williams is thrilled with the move.
“The club has been working really hard to get the meeting back to the home track,” 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.”
The club will also be giving away rides in the mobile and entry to the meeting is free, with the first race due off around 12noon.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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