Cup Day on its way back to former glory

Michael Guerin writes in the NZ Herald that New Zealand’s biggest harness racing day is “starting to feel like the old days again” but there is a crucial part of the puzzle Addington officials want to add to New Zealand Trotting Cup Day.

Addington is planning for a traditional Cup Day crowd that could approach 20,000 for the November 8 meeting, a far cry from Cup Day last year which was restricted to a crowd of 1200 because of Covid.

The travel restrictions at the time meant Ray Green, the trainer of Cup winner Copy That (American Ideal), and almost all Auckland-based trainers and connections were unable to attend the meeting.

The racing was still world class but the meeting overall felt like eating a wet sandwich compared to the Cup Day which is usually New Zealand racing’s biggest race meeting of any code.

Addington spokesman and one of New Zealand harness racing’s most experienced and trusted administrators Darrin Williams says the club is planning for a real New Zealand Cup Day this spring and they already have enormous buy in.

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by Michael Guerin, reprinted with permission from the NZ Herald