 |
Sports correspondent & historian with |
The last Saturday in June saw another edition of the traditional winter race meeting held at the Gate Pa Pā racecourse.
The winter races have been a permanent fixture since 1959, when the return of the Bay of Plenty Steeplechase became a foundation event of the winter meeting, before steeplechasing eventually fell from favour.
The then Bay of Plenty Racing Club, one of the most innovative clubs in the country, added an open-handicap middle-distance race to the winter programme in 1979.
Originally known as the Owens Trophy, the race underwent several name changes before being renamed the BOP Combined Packhouses Handicap in 1992. The new title recognised the coming together of the local racing club and the kiwifruit industry to celebrate the annual kiwifruit season.
In 1996, the race became the Kiwifruit Cup. , with The latest edition was won by Tenfoot Tall just two weeks ago.
The present-day Kiwifruit Cup reflects the vast changes in thoroughbred racing since Hamptons Choice, trained by former Katikati trainer Lee Sommerville, won the inaugural Kiwifruit Cup.
Three decades ago, the race attracted the country’s best winter stayers, who came to the Gate Pā course knowing they would be racing on a track that provided reliable winter footing. Today, the former winter feature serves as a support race to the Tauranga Classic for fillies and mares over 1400m.
The change in the stature of the Kiwifruit Cup reflects the massive transformation of thoroughbred racing over the past three decades.
Thirty years ago, Tauranga race meetings were major events. The six to eight meetings held each year often attracted crowds large enough to fill car parks to overflowing.
Owners, trainers, jockeys and punters from throughout the North Island mingled with large numbers of local racegoers.
Suits and ties outnumbered casual attire, and there often seemed to be an informal competition to own the largest pair of binoculars.
In 1996, horse racing held centre stage for those who enjoyed a wager, with the TAB maintaining a virtual monopoly on gambling.
Sports betting was still in its infancy, and a TAB online betting platform remained well in the future.
While total TAB turnover has soared compared with 30 years ago, punters have largely deserted physical betting outlets in favour of online betting. Public grandstands now stand empty except during feature meetings.
Even on course, punters use their smartphones to access online TAB accounts, while tote operators are often left standing idle.
Sports betting appeals to a technology-savvy younger generation, with sports wagering now matching horse-racing turnover.
The Kiwifruit Cup also reflects the changes that breeders have experienced over the past three decades. Today, the emphasis is on speed rather than the stamina that was once prized. Owners and trainers want horses that can excel in two-year-old races before developing into six- and seven-furlong sprinters or milers.
Middle-distance thoroughbred races have fallen from favour, with the biggest stakes largely reserved for juveniles and sprinter-milers.
I wonder where the racing industry will be in another 30 years.
Greyhound racing will end at the close of July, and jumps racing is on life support. The horse-racing industry must remain acutely aware of animal welfare concerns.
Thirty years ago, jockeys urged their mounts on with spurs and struck horses repeatedly with whips. While spurs have been outlawed and the use of whips severely restricted, welfare issues still need to be addressed if the “Sport of Kings” is to continue thriving into the future.