Kurow adds extra race | Oamaru News | Local News in Oamaru

An influx of nominations has forced organisers to add an extra race to the annual Kurow race meeting tomorrow.

Gallop South general manager Malcolm Little told the Oamaru Mail the nominations were so good, the club had added another race to the original 10 races.

"We are thrilled with the number of nominations, and with the track rated at a G3, everything is ready for a great day," Mr Little said.

Leading trainers, including Michael Pitman (Yaldhurst), and Brian and Shane Anderton (Wingatui), will line up a number of runners at the Interislander Summer Festival meeting, with some of New Zealand's leading jockeys set to ride, including Jamie Bullard, David Walsh, Lisa Allpress, Chris Johnson and Lance Robinson.

Stable jockey Shankar Muniandy will be aboard the Anderton's horses. The stable lifted the Interislander trophy at last year's premier event.

The meeting will kick off with the Tom Waldron Bayleys Canterbury Maiden at 12.15pm, with the major event, the PGG Wrightson Cup over 1800m, due to run at 4.27pm.

"The topweight, Borninthestates by Chief Bearheart, with Jamie Bullard aboard and trained by Michael Pitman has drawn 12 at the barrier and is the form horse of the race," Mr Little said.

"This year, the Cup has also received a lift in stakemoney and is now worth $16,000, which is very pleasing."

Trainers will also have another incentive to get their horses first past the post, with the Kurow Jockey Club gifting 100 bales of lucerne hay to the leading trainer of the meeting, thanks to the generosity of local farmer Will Fraser.

"It is certainly a great sponsorship," Mr Little said.

In the event of a tie between two trainers, each will receive 50 bales each. In the event of a tie with more than two trainers, the winner of the bales will be decided by a ballot.

Aside from the racing, there will also be plenty to entertain the children with free activities, games, rides and races, plus live music. The gates will open at 10am.

The next local meeting on the Interislander Summer Series is the Waikouaiti New Year's Day event, followed by Omakau on January 2. Racing will start at noon, with gates open from 10am.

Two races at the Waikouaiti meeting have also received a lift in stakes.

The 2000m Open Handicap is now worth $13,120, while the 1250m Open Handicap is valued at $13,250.