Melbourne Cup launches New Zealand Cup and Show Week
Wednesday 8 October 2008, 9:18PM
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Two of Australasia’s biggest racing events gathered yesterday to launch the 2008 New Zealand Cup and Show Week carnival.
With the Emirates Melbourne Cup on Tour in New Zealand, it was a perfect opportunity to kick off the two biggest racing events in the southern hemisphere together.
The Victoria Racing Club joined the Canterbury Jockey Club at the newly restored Tea House at Riccarton Park as part of the South Island leg of the Emirates Melbourne Cup on Tour, New Zealand journey.
A quant afternoon tea in the newly restored 103 year old Edwardian style Tea House at Riccarton Park, was an ideal setting for the launch.
With our own spring carnival of racing only weeks away, Canterbury Jockey Club CEO Tim Mills said timing for the re-opening of one of New Zealand’s oldest Racecourse facilities couldn’t have been better.
“The Tea House restoration has been an ongoing project for several years and it was wonderful to be able to invite the VRC and New Zealand Cup and Show Week event partners to such a historically significant building to launch the 2008 renewal of one of Australasia’s iconic race meetings including the South Islands first $1,000,000 race.”
Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker welcomed the Australian guests as he and the New Zealand Cup and Show Week event partners launched what is now known as an iconic national event for New Zealand.
New Zealand Cup and Show Week www.nzcupandshow.co.nz is the second largest racing event to the Melbourne Cup in Australasia and is held from November 7-15.