Newshounds to hit the track

Despite racing in his gumboots, Barry the Butcher is keen for another go against his old rival the "Brown Horse'' today. Photo / File

Snapper will look dapper running the race of his life

Well, we had to live up to our word.

Covering a story last year about the man behind the "Barry the Butcher" mask competing in his last run in the famous Mascot dash at the Wanganui Christmas at the Races, it was nonchalantly mentioned by the Wanganui Chronicle team that they wouldn't mind having a go themselves.

Wanganui Jockey Club operations manager Bret Field has a long memory.

So yesterday, in the midst of packing up our now-former riverside office to move into our new premises in down-town Wanganui this weekend, Field called us out like a street brawler wanting a piece of Sonny Bill Williams to make good on a 12-month-old pledge.

Therefore, lining up in today's 17-strong field for the Repco Mascot Race, without a hint of anything that resembles preparation, will be team "Print Run Chronics" sports editor Jared Smith and chief photographer Stuart Munro.

After years of being at the Wanganui racetrack with his camera, Munro will have a unique opportunity with what could be a first in sports coverage he will be snapping the action from inside the 150m race itself.

"I'll be running and paparazzi with the other competitors," he said.

"It will be a challenge to run and shoot at the same time. I will have a handicap over others as I will be running sideways and backwards.

"So if I win, that says a lot about who I'm running against.

"We're doing it to promote our newspaper, since we've been a part of the community for 157 years."

It is a good thing the Chronicle did not reveal the identity of the man inside the Barry costume last year, given his retirement was brief and he returned to the role in rugby season 2013.

"There is a bit of rivalry between the horses in the stable and Barry the Butcher has been training for six weeks," said Field.

There were originally 16 entries for the event but a late number has been added as some lucky punter will get to become the Parade Ring mascot.

This will be decided on the day, with the likelihood a little bit of Irish courage will be involved.

The Repco Mascot race will be held for laughs likely at our expense after Race 2 today at 1.39pm.

After that it will be back to the serious business, namely the headline $50,000 Wanganui Cup for Race 7 at 4.33pm.

The Repco Mascot Race contestants include: 1. Horse (brown horse); 2. The Great White Stallion (white horse); 3. Woody Girl; 4. Barry the Butcher (Wanganui Rugby); 5. Santa; 6. Mrs Claus (Leonie Symes); 7. Christmas Fairy; 8. Mr Hooker Bear (LJ Hooker Real Estate); 9. Woody Weed (Horizons environment manager Neil Gallagher); 10. Ginger Ninja (Horizons); 11. Dan the Mower Man (Rivercity Mowers & Machinery); 12. Belsham Racing Stables (Kate "the Apprentice" Belsham); 13. Jessica Jockey; 14. Cassidhe "The Duchess" & Blake 'the Flash' Bilderbeck; 15. Milly the Wizard; 16. Print Run Chronics (Jared Smith and Stuart Munro); 17. Parade Ring Mascot.