The Tapanui Racing Club race once a year at Gore in December. The club transferred to Gore in 1999 after racing at Tapanui since 1869. The meeting was abandoned in 1998 due to lack of horses; abandoned after two races in 1996 and abandoned after one race at Wingatui in 2006. The club raced at Wingatui in 2004 and 05. Princess Mellay and Trelay are notable winners of the Tapanui Cup. Princess Mellay won the Tapanui Cup in 1970 two starts after success in the New Zealand Cup. She repeated her NZ Cup win the following year. Trelay was the runner up each time and he won the Tapanui Cup under 61kg in 1972. Both horses were trained at Wingatui by Hector Anderton, who won the 1940 Tapanui Cup with Pink Robe, the great granddam of Princess Mellay.

To hear the different hospitality options available for this annual Christmas at the races meeting held at Gore late December, please contact Jo on cell 021 246 5889 or email [email protected]