George Simon: Must all our major races be in major cities?
George Simon • November 17th, 2025 2:34 PM • 4 min read
Recently, I wrote about having an epiphany.
It revolved around the Hawkes Bay Spring Carnival being relocated to Ellerslie and Te Rapa due to issues with the Hastings track.
I have no doubt the decision by NZTR and all associated parties was the right one.
They couldn't take the risk of running such a prestigious carnival on a track that had obvious issues.
Both Ellerslie and Te Rapa were the obvious choices as replacement venues, and I've got absolutely no issues with them.
The fields attracted at both venues over all three days of the Spring Carnival were the best that could be assembled.
The unusually wet Spring weather did cause some ripples of concern, but I thought both Ellerslie and Te Rapa tracks responded beautifully.
My epiphany surrounding the Hawkes Bay Spring Carnival centred around the lack of people on course to witness the action.
I called several of those Carnivals in the mid 2010's and I loved how the local racing fraternity supported the Carnival, culminating with a decent shin dig on the last day.
With the hotly contested NZ Punter of the Year competition held on the last day as well, it was always a wonderful occasion.
This year I felt, with due respect to Ellerslie and Te Rapa, there wasn't the same vibe on course.
For northern racing fans it was another opportunity to see Group One racing without having to travel to Hawkes Bay.
A bonus if you will.
But if the carnival was in Hawkes Bay, you can bet your last dollar the locals would have been in boots and all.
Because it's theirs.
They started off all those years ago, nurturing and developing the Spring Carnival into what it has now become.
The New Zealand sporting scene is littered with staunch parochial regional supporters and it's no different in Magpies Country.
It made me question my own belief that NZ Racing needs to centralise its base.
I'm not so sure about centralisation now.
Driving home from Rotorua races on Sunday afternoon, I couldn't help thinking of the vision on Trackside from the Waipukurau meeting that day.
If you caught it, you'll know what I'm talking about.
Thousands of people enjoying the action out on the track and you could feel the wonderful on course vibe.
I was astounded when I heard Justin Evans mention prior to race one, it had been six long years since Waipukurau last raced.
Do you reckon the locals missed it?
Well done to Kirstie Lawrence and her team at Waipukurau.
Country racing at its best.
Can NZ racing afford to lose that?
