Daffodil Race Day Triples Attendance

Tuesday 1st September

Daffodil Race Day Triples Attendance

Over five thousand race goers turned out to support the Cancer Society at the Makfi Challenge Stakes Daffodil Raceday – more than tripling 2014’s attendance and notching up the day’s biggest crowd in fourteen years.

New Hawke’s Bay Racing Club CEO Andrew Castles says the success of Daffodil Race Day illustrates how many in the racing community have been touched by cancer.

‘The last time anyone can remember a crowd that big on the first day of the Hawke’s Bay Carnival was when Sunline celebrated her last New Zealand appearance with a win in 2002

‘To look out across the course and see everyone – young and old, wearing their daffodils and enjoying a day of top quality racing was truly special,’ says Castles.

Three horses crossed the finish line first carrying the Cancer Society colours - Sacred Master in Race 2, The Bold One in Race 4 and Kawi in the Group 1 Makfi Challenge Stakes.

‘To have Kawi win the big one in the colours was a fairytale really, we couldn’t have scripted a better ending,’ says Castles.

Kawi Jockey Leith Innes, The Raffles Dancers Syndicate, Aucklanders David and Angela Paykel all donated to the cause, as did the TAB.

The day was boosted by the attendance of Blackcaps Captain Brendon McCullum and in total raised $20,000 for the Hawke’s Bay Cancer Society.

“The Makfi Challenge Stakes Daffodil Race Day has now cemented its place as a ‘must do’ meeting in the Thoroughbred Racing Calendar,

“The plan now is to get more local businesses behind this initiative, because I firmly believe it will become an iconic event the region can be proud of,” says Castles.

Daffodil Race Day kicked off a spectacular month of Hawkes Bay racing, with the Windsor Park Plate on September 19 and the iconic Livamol Spring Classic on October 3.

Donations to the Cancer Society can still be made online at www.daffodilday.org.nz.

ENDS

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