Ready for Waitangi Day racing at Tauherenikau | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

A great family day is in store for Wairarapa people who make the Waitangi Day pilgrimage to Tauherenikau racecourse, recognised as one of the country's best picnic venues.

While racing is the principal attraction Wairarapa Racing Club has planned events that will ensure the kids are well catered for.

Functions manager Ginni Thurston said children will be able to divide their time between a bouncy castle, a mini ferris wheel, giant slides, merry-go-rounds, a mini fell engine and Zappo the magician. For those who are a bit more adventurous and have a little experience on horseback the Gladstone Inn is sponsoring a pony race down the straight, with prizes to boot.

The older brigade who want to take a short break from investing on the tote will be able to listen to Masterton singer Tess O'Hara and, of course, the usual food outlets will be on-course.

The meeting will be one of the last in this year's Inter-island Summer Festival promotion and a feature for punters will again be the Punter's Club with some expert investments being sorted by selector Dave (Tubs) Wright.

Features on the card will be the Wairarapa Cup to be raced over 2050m this year carrying an increased stake ($15,000) and the listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes for fillies and mares being raced over 1600m for $45,000.

Apart from looking forward to the Waitangi Day meeting the Wairarapa Racing Club committee has its sights further afield with early planning for a special day in 2014. That will be the club's 150th Jubilee and the committee is starting to plan a commemoration that should delight the thousands of loyal racegoers who make racing at Tauherenikau a "must" each time the horses are under starter's orders.

Wairarapa Times-Age has four double passes to the Summer Festival raceday to give away.

To be in to win, send us your answer this question: Who will be guest selector for the Punters Club on February 6? Email editor@age.co.nz or write to PO Box 445, Masterton by February 1.