Racing: Auckland cup week bets on city pride

Among all the reasons to go to the races during Auckland's first cup week, one stands out - pride.

Plenty of other attractions could drag you along to Ellerslie, Alexandra Park or Manukau in the next eight days - the pretty horses (and dogs), the socialising, the money, the scenery ...

But lovely as they all are something more important is at stake here.

Because as racing carnivals around the world go, New Zealand has only one worth mentioning at the moment - and it's in Christchurch.

England has Royal Ascot, the United States has the Kentucky Derby, Australia has Melbourne Cup week and we have ... Christchurch.

Yes Christchurch, which is in Canterbury, where almost everybody hates Aucklanders.

Yet every year planeloads of Aucklanders and truckloads of outstanding North Island horses travel south for the second week in November, where they inject millions into the local economy.

The reason is simple. Auckland has never been able to establish a truly successful racing carnival.

Boxing Day at Ellerslie is as close as we get, but half of Auckland has headed to some over-priced costal real estate for the holidays at that time of year and by New Year's Day most people have run out of money, enthusiasm or liver capacity.

So the Auckland Racing Club decided to target March, when Aucklanders are in Auckland and the corporate social scene is pining for a focus in the lull between the tennis opens and the serious end of the Super 14.

They were soon backed up by the Auckland Trotting Club and the greyhound club, and the result is seven race meetings in Auckland in the next nine days, including all three cups in consecutive days starting next Wednesday.

It is the week northern racing fans have craved, a carnival to call their own and one to put some pride back into the local racing industry.

Auckland Racing Club boss Chris Weaver goes one further. He says the carnival can put some pride and passion back into Auckland in general.

"When you see the effect cup week has on Christchurch and the rugby sevens has on Wellington, you realise why we need something like this here," says Weaver, one of the masterminds behind moving Ellerslie's biggest races from their traditional Christmas dates.



"We want this to eventually become Auckland's iconic event, something which fills the hotels, brings people into the city and gives them something to enjoy ...

"A really big racing carnival, like the one in Melbourne or Christchurch, gives people a chance to dress up, spend some money, party and even show off a little bit.

"And when you think about it, if you asked most Cantabrians what Aucklanders are like they would say exactly that."

Weaver says he is "envious" of the success of Christchurch's cup week but wants the Auckland product to eventually better it on merit.

"We want to take the best elements of carnivals in Melbourne, Sydney, Christchurch, wherever, and bring them to our table. Sure, I want this to be the best racing carnival in New Zealand but we have to earn that right, and I don't think the two carnivals need to cannibalise each other."

Of course not. We just want our cannibal to be bigger than their cannibal.

"We know this won't happen overnight and even we have no idea what to expect this week. We know our pre-sales are very good, but a lot will depend on the weather.

"But whatever numbers we do this week I'd hope we can double them in a few years as this grows."

Although the two Saturday meetings at Ellerslie and the two Friday nights at Alexandra Park will be easier for most people to attend, it is next Wednesday that will be the best guide to how warmly Auckland's first cup week has been received.

Eventually the ARC wants Wednesday's feature, the Auckland Cup, to become a race that stops a nation (ah, yes, you have heard that somewhere before).

They face two initial problems. Because of its handicapping conditions, the Auckland Cup will rarely attract New Zealand's best gallopers.

And second, well, it's a Wednesday. Which poses the question: Would you take the day off work to go to the races?

Weaver is doing his best to solve that problem.

"We have put the cup after 5pm so some people can get there after work or watch it from work and have a sweepstake there or the TAB. But the bottom line is both the Melbourne Cup and New Zealand Trotting Cups are on Tuesdays, and they are massive events."

So there it is, Auckland.

It is time to take one for the team. As morally wrong as it may be, you might just have to develop a 24-hour flu next Wednesday that forces you to take the day off work. Your city is depending on you.