Thousands attend big race

Race for Grins winner Copy That parades in front of the sell-out crowd at Cambridge Raceway. Photo: Angelique Bridson.

The presence of extra police resources from Hamilton and a 50-strong security contingent averted any major issues at Cambridge Raceway on Friday but chief executive Dave Branch said he will still undertake a thorough debrief.

The Race for Grins meeting attracted a record crowd of just under 4000 people – twice what it got last year.

Cheering loudest were Karāpiro couple Wayne and Fiona Keoghan who won $50,000 in Cambridge Raceway’s sweepstake after drawing champion pacer Copy That. The six-year-old took out the $1 million feature slot race slashing the 2200m track record in the process in a time of 2m36.3s.

Driven by champion driver Blair Orange, Copy That won $450,000 for his owners Merv and Meg Butterworth and more kudos for trainer Ray Green.

The Keoghans, who paid $100 for a sweepstake ticket and drew Copy That, knew little about the horse.

Wayne, who works for a company that imports motor home equipment, and Fiona who runs the laundry at St Peters School, now know all about the horse that cost only $7000 as a pony and has won more than $2 million in career stakes.

Before Copy That’s impressive win, the biggest cheer on the night went to the Matthew White Cambridge trained and driven Zlato, a rank outsider which won the race four mobile pace. The Zlato Syndicate owners packed ringside as the three-year-old, with a beaming White, came back to the winners’ circle.

Mr Muscle gets congratulations from his owners after the five-year-old bay gelding driven by Michelle Wallis takes out race three at the Race for Grins meeting. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Shock win of the night was Zlato’s win in Race 4. The three-year-old bay gelding gets guided in to greet its many owners with a pleased owner/driver Matthew White of Cambridge in the sulky. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Blair Orange in the sulky behind Ideal Kingdom, winner of race six.

Other Waipā success came with driver Benjamin Butcher, who won the race five handicap pace behind Cos I Can.

Throughout the night police and security guards were kept busy as punters took to the sponsor’s drink with great gusto.

The club had a special liquor licence for the meeting which allowed for transactions of two drinks a transaction, rather than two drinks a person for each transaction. And that, along with an electrical overloading issue in the drinks marquee, resulted in long queues throughout the night.

Sue Schneider of Derby City Dragons, Louisville, Kentucky, USA was steering for the Pink Crusaders at the Dragon Boat festival and popped in to see the trots. Photo: Mary Anne Gill

“You want some line there to slow down people drinking and the line seemed to be moving, but the long line was not ideal,” said Branch.

“There were a few isolated incidents,” which police and the club’s own security detail were able to clamp down on.

Ambulance staff attended to two incidents – one involving a trainer involved in a car crash on the way to Cambridge and a security guard who had a seizure.

Catering staff struggled to keep up with the food requirements.

“It was an eventful night,” said Branch. “We’ll have our own staff debrief and talk to the police about the night.”

New Zealand singer-songwriter Mitch James, who is about to embark on his first global tour playing 30 dates in Germany, Ireland, France, Netherlands, UK, Australia and 13 shows across New Zealand – wrapped up the night.