It is shaping as the closest mayoral battle yet for Nick Smith and Tim King – and it is against each other.
The two local mayors will contest bragging rights in a dual sulky race on the second day of the Nelson Harness Racing Club meeting at Richmond Park this Sunday.
Two specially-designed sulkies are being brought up from Canterbury for the clash over a mile.
The carts fit a licensed driver and a passenger, in this case a mayor, and have proved immensely popular around the country.
Nick is likely to fancy his chances if it is a photo finish. The females will also be centre stage with not only the annual fashion in the field competition but race mares competing in the inaugural Tasman Express series.
There will be a $20,000 mile heat on both days and the first five home will qualify for the $35,000 final at Addington on 23 January.
“That stake money should ensure quality fields,” declares NHRC president Erin Fox. While she is new to the role, Erin has been around horses since she was 12 years old. “I actually started out riding a broken-down trotter. My parents bought the Metropolitan Hotel in Nelson and my father Cec got into racing at that point.
We had a training establishment on the corner of Nayland and Saxton Roads and later a track on land which is now part of Berryfields,” says the Māpua resident, who has carried on the family tradition as a successful racehorse breeder and owner.
“These are certainly challenging times for the club with no winter dates nor a grandstand on the finishing line after the old building was demolished in October.”
The club is bringing in temporary portacoms, one of them a 6m x 3m structure which will house the official judge, photo finish links, judicial and stipendiary staff and the commentator.
It is coming from Saxton Oval after the domestic T20 cricket double-header on 3 January.
As for assuming the club presidency, Erin insists she has a very supportive and capable committee which was the catalyst for her agreeing to succeed Canterbury-based Kristie Hill.
The two-day meet starts on Friday afternoon.
