Auckland Cup set to draw big crowd today

The first race for the Auckland Trotting Club's premier race meeting kicks off today, with the day promising to deliver the country's best harness racing, good weather, and a big crowd to top off a successful 125th anniversary year for Alexandra Park.

“This is set to be an action-packed afternoon and evening. There’s a lot of excitement building that the prestigious Auckland Cup will be up for grabs for the second time in 2015 – which is unique in itself,” says Alexandra Park chief executive Dominique Dowding.

A few months ago the New Zealand Racing Board together with the Auckland Trotting Club announced that Alexandra Park will host the Trillian Trust Auckland Cup on New Year’s Eve – returning after 10 years to its traditional date of 31 December from the first week of March.

“The combination of New Zealand’s best horses and drivers, superb racing, plenty of hospitality, family fun, and fashion will make for a very special occasion. What’s more, entry to the park, live music and entertainment are free for the public to enjoy with the after party continuing late to celebrate New Year’s Eve,” says Ms Dowding.

As Auckland harness racing’s biggest race of the season, the $250,000 Auckland Trotting Cup, at 7.08pm, is known as the race of champions. In the past it has been won by true sporting greats like Cardigan Bay, Young Quinn, Christian Cullen, Elsu and Themightyquinn.

Racing media personality Michael Guerin says the move back to a December 31 Auckland Cup has already been a huge success as the field looks sensational.

"It has the two real young guns of pacing in Have Faith In Me and Hughie Green up against the more established stars and with some of the huge names in the support races. It is set to be one of the best race days you could go to anywhere in New Zealand all year,” says Mr Guerin.

Ms Dowding says Alexandra Park will have something for everyone from the glitz of fine dining through to the more casual racing experience.

“With the promise of great racing and all the excitement around the Auckland Cup being back on New Year’s Eve, it is set to be a huge meeting,” she says.

View the fields here: http://www.alexandrapark.co.nz/racing/

For further information contact: Alexandra Park CEO Dominique Dowding (021) 377-303