Levin Racing Club

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While punters’ clubs have become a regular on-track feature at New Zealand race meetings, this Friday’s Levin Classic will feature a punters’ club with a difference.

Instead of being on-course at Otaki, punters’ club guest selector, Neil Davis, will be making his selections live from his living room in Nelson, thanks to Trackside and mobile phones.

Neil, who runs the popular betting site www.formpro.co.nz, will be blogging his way through the day with pre-race comments, the selections, the bets and a post race comment along with a running balance.

The Levin Classic kicks off on Thursday night with a reception for visiting guests and locals at the Horowhenua District Council Chambers.  This event is unique in New Zealand racing circles - a mayoral reception to celebrate a feature race.

The first race on Friday starts at 12.10, with the day's main event, the Group One Levin Classic for 3yos run over 1600 metres starting at 5.18.

Race seven features another big race, the listed Chainey's Masport Levin Stakes over 1200 m.

The day isn't just about racing - there's action on and off the course.

The Levin Racing Club Hall of Fame was created in August 2009 to recognise the achievements of local racing people and horses at the national level.

The first inductee was announced in August 2009.

2009  Bill (W.D.) Skelton

Few jockeys win a premiership.

Bill (WD) Skelton won seven over three decades.

Riding out of Levin from 1964, Bill put Levin fairly and squarely in the national spotlight as champion jockey including a record tally of 124 in the 1967-68 season.Bill Skelton was the first NZ jockey to ride 2000 winners and retired with a then record total of 2179.

Few racing clubs have had as many ups and downs as the Levin Racing Club.

To ensure these stories are captured for future generations of racing fans, the Levin Racing Club announced at its Ryder Stakes meeting that it has commissioned club member, local author, and racing enthusiast Lloyd Chapman to write the Club's definitie history.

While the Club doesn't celebrate its 100th year of incorporation until 2016, racing in the Horowhenua region dates as far back as the 1850’s.

It was a cake walk for Lamington Vegas in the 2009 Experience Group Ryder Stakes, with David Walker scoring an easy win on the promising filly.

The win put the icing on the cake for Andrew Scott, with the ex local boy scoring three wins.

Read more at NZ Thoroughbred News.

The Levin Racing Club is grateful for the support of the following sponsors who have helped me the 2009 Ryder Stakes a success.