Trainer Donna Logan bringing her own water to Hastings

Trainer Donna Logan is bringing water for her horses. Photo / NZME

Northland trainer Donna Logan isn't taking any chances with her horses in the first of a trilogy of group one race meetings in Hawke's Bay starting tomorrow.

Logan, who is bringing Valley Girl and Hasselhoof for the main race among four for the Bostock Hawke's Bay Spring Racing Carnival, is carting water to Hastings as a precaution against the gastro bug crisis that has brought Havelock North to its knees.

"Look, trainers are pretty meticulous in looking after their animals," says Hawke's Bay Racing general manager Andrew Castles before the Makfi Challenge Stakes Daffodil Raceday.

"Donna's rung up just to make sure but, to be doubly sure, she's actually bringing her own water with them [horses] because she doesn't want them to be off it when they travel so she's bringing containers of water with her," says Castles, of a meeting which doubles as a fundraiser for the Hawke's Bay Cancer Society.

Needless to say, he has done everything to convince the Northland trainer that chlorinated water is "quite normal throughout the country".

"I went through and understand that Auckland [Ellerslie] has chlorinated water.

"But, again, this has been big news not just in Hawke's Bay but around the country so she's taken the added precaution of bringing water for her horses and that just shows you the way people are looking at it."

Logan, he says, has been traditionally thorough in her preparation of horses, regardless of whether they were in New Zealand or Australia.

Castles says the first leg of the spring carnival was never under threat of cancellation.

"Look, it may have been different if the false scare of Hastings water having being contaminated had proved to be correct but as far as water here goes it's safe so no [it was never under threat]," he says.

H2GO has donated 1200 bottles of free water which will be distributed to racegoers in the children's area tomorrow.

"Again, it's a gesture of goodwill to say we know you've been struggling with water issues in Hawke's Bay so here's some water from H2GO to go in the area where Hamish Bond and Anita McLaren [nee Punt] will be," Castles says.

The children's area will have a rowing machine and hockey drills section to enable the Rio Olympians to show youngsters some silky skills.

According to Castles, there's no rain today.

"We use three weather forecasts and each one of them is a little different but each one is saying weather on Friday is clearing and Saturday's a fine day."

He says the dead 5 track at the racecourse was "perfect". Jockey Johnathan Riddell had endorsed that after doing some track work for Hastings trainer John Bary.

"We will get some rain ... but we don't want a whole lot but it'll cope with a little bit of rain."

With a hot gold medal here straight from Rio, some of the very best horse flesh from New Zealand on the card and the start of the carnival, he is expecting the day to be a success.

"That's the key [fine day]. If it's a wet day there won't be a very big crowd but I'm expecting up to 3500 to 4000, at least."

Castles says, having raised $20,000 in each previous two Daffodil Days, it is a worthy cause for the racing industry and HB Racing to support.

"I'll be thrilled if we can hand over more than $20,000 in donations to the Hawke's Bay Cancer Society."

Rowing gold medallist Bond, he feels, has made a valid statement on the Sunsmart message because, as athletes, they take similar precautions in their codes.

"It's near and dear to him so he's coming to be part of the day."

Castles says it'll be difficult to find a child in the Bay who hasn't been involved at school in some description with the Rio Olympics in the past three weeks.

"It's a great way for them to round off their projects to come and see real live Olympians and a gold medal," he says, revealing the activities after 1.30pm were an opportune time for parents to get their kids' Saturday morning sport out of the way.

Entry to the meeting is via donation at the gates.