Racing odds-on for Castlepoint | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

It's a case of fingers-crossed for members of the Castlepoint Racing Club committee hoping that the sands of time will stay exactly where they are until at least March 10.

If they do, the club will hold its first beach race meeting in five years. It has a bumper day's fun planned.

Every year since 2007, the club has been dashed with disappointment when high seas and easterly winds have combined to strip away the sand, exposing rocks and making it impossible to safely race horses on the beach.

Club secretary Jo Blyth said yesterday that though the club was always "at the mercy of mother nature", the sand had built up nicely especially in front of Castlepoint Store and things were looking good for racing on March 10.

An eight-race card is planned, with the feature, the Castlepoint Cup, to be raced over 1600m about halfway through the programme.

The cup carries a $2000 stake and is expected to attract interest from professional trainers trying to get horses fit by racing them on the beach.

Mrs Blyth said they wanted everyone to have a fun day and entry fees reflected that, with $5 for pedestrians and $20 a carload.

Punting will be by equalisator, with tickets costing $2.

A pony race will be a new attraction.