The 43rd edition of the Windsor Park Stud Japan NZ International Trophy, the longest running and highest profile race at the Tauranga racecourse, will run tomorrow over 1600 metres with a stake of $100,000 up for grabs.
Originally called the Japan/Bay of Plenty International, the autumn feature at the Gate Pa course has been won by some of the very best horses in the country since Spectre, ridden by Melbourne Cup winning jockey Ron Taylor, won the inaugural race in 1971.
The seed for the Japan/Bay of Plenty International was sown when Bay of Plenty Racing Club president Bob Silson first travelled to Japan in 1966. The major focus of the trip was to explore the possibilities of meat exports to Japan but a secondary mission was to investigate the computerised totalisator system. While the Japanese tote system never got off the ground in New Zealand, contact had been made between the two countries' racing fraternities.
Later discussions with the JRA (Japan Racing Association) resulted in the inaugural reciprocal race being run at Nakayama racecourse in Japan. The 2014 New Zealand Trophy race is to be run at the Nakayama racecourse on April 12, for the not inconsiderable stake of 52 million ($596,000).
The Bay of Plenty representation at the first Bay of Plenty/Japan race in Japan included Bob Silson and Bay of Plenty Racing Club committee member Bob Owens, who was mayor of both Tauranga and Mount Maunganui at the time.