Hawke's Bay Daffodil Raceday smashes fundraising record

Winner Melody Belle, ridden by Shafiq Rusof, is led into the winners' circle by stable hand Teina Walters. Photo / File

Tarzino Trophy Daffodil Raceday officially broke its fundraising record, raising close to $37,000 for Hawke's Bay cancer patients and their families.

The previous record was $31,000 in 2016. Hawke's Bay Cancer Society manager Trudy Kirk was thrilled with the result and said the money would go a long way to helping those in the community living with cancer.

"We appreciate and applaud the partnership between Hawke's Bay Racing, Westbury Stud, the New Zealand Racing Board and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing who come together each year to support our cause.

"My team were impressed with the generosity of racing donors, the beautiful High Tea enjoyed by a hundred of our Daffodil Day volunteers, and the look of the course themed in daffodils. It was a fabulous day."

The spring weather was true to its name and more than 3000 people embraced the sunny day at Hastings Racecourse.

CEO Andrew Castles said he believed the event has been truly acknowledged by both racing and Hawke's Bay communities.

"The board and staff at Hawke's Bay Racing consider it a privilege to work with our partners to make this day a success and we are already looking forward to raising the bar again next year.

"Thank you to the people of Hawke's Bay who came out and enjoyed a wonderful day of entertainment, it was a great way to start the Bostock New Zealand Spring Carnival."

Castles also joined Trackside presenters Brendan Popplewell, Aidan Rodley and Bevan Sweeney shaving their heads after the last race, raising a total of $10,000. The owners of Melody Belle donated $1000 after the explosive mare took out the Group One Tarzino Trophy and trainer Tony Pike donated half of his winnings on the day after claiming the El Roca Sir Colin Meads Trophy.

Castles said the entry fees collected at the gate were almost $6000 and along with charity auctions, head shaving, raffles and industry participant contributions, to get to somewhere near $37,000 was "mind blowing".

The day was also boosted with the attendance of Warriors legends Stacey Jones, Tony Iro and Silver Ferns captain Katrina Grant, who helped collect donations before spending time speaking to a hundred Hawke's Bay Cancer Society volunteers.