Week-long carnival
Fashion, racing, fireworks and the country’s largest A&P Show bring glamour and excitement to the annual festivities of New Zealand Cup and Show Week.
The carnival has already attracted one potential superstar New Zealand’s million-dollar colt Darci Brahma, a Group One winner in Australia. Darci Brahma, which is based in the South Island preparing for the carnival, will contest the Christchurch Casino 2000 Guineas at Riccarton on Saturday, 12 November.
Expectation and excitement are certainly building for the week-long traditional carnival from November 4-12. The week attracts 14,000 visitors to the city and injects about $25 million into the local economy.
Christchurch City Council gives financial support to New Zealand Cup and Show Week because of the high number of visitors it attracts and the economic benefit that flows from that.
Every year the programme changes slightly to ensure that the events cater for all ages and interests. A first this year is the Christchurch Casino Canterbury Fashion week, which runs in conjunction with the feature horse racing events and the A&P Show.
Mayor Garry Moore says New Zealand Cup and Show Week is a fantastic time to be in Christchurch. “The week brings out the best in what our city has to offer. There’s just a wonderful feeling at all the events, as well as in the central city,” he says.
Fashion is in the spotlight at the New Zealand Cup and Show Week launch on Friday, 4 November, at the glittering Canterbury Fashion Collections and Awards in the Town Hall Auditorium. The event will feature the collections of 25 local designers and 15 fashion awards will be presented.
The fashion awards winners will parade at Riccarton, on Saturday, 5 November, when the first of the week’s galloping feature races is run — the New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas for fillies.
The stables at Riccarton are already abuzz with the arrival of gallopers from the country’s top stables to contest the feature events at Riccarton during its three-day meeting. Cup week includes an afternoon event on Wednesday and culminates with the Christchurch Casino New Zealand 2000 Guineas and First Sovereign Trust New Zealand Cup Day on Saturday, 12 November.
Organisers are keeping their fingers crossed for fine weather on Saturday, 5 November when a huge crowd is expected at New Brighton for the Meridian Energy Fireworks display.
Buses will leave from key locations around the city every 10 minutes starting from 6pm (ring MetroInfo on 366 8855 for more details). The return trips will leave New Brighton after the fireworks, at about 9.45pm. The display, which starts at 9.30pm, will be even bigger than in previous years, says event organiser Islay McLeod.
All roads lead to Addington raceway on Tuesday, 8 November, for Christchurch Casino New Zealand Trotting Cup Day. The Cup attracts a crowd of 20,000 as Christchurch locals join thousands of visitors to party. It’s a day of contrasts. Well-dressed patrons enjoy sipping champagne and socialising in the hospitality tents, while others are equally happy in T-shirts and jandals, picnicking with beer and chilly bins.
The trotting enthusiasts return to Addington on Show Day for Lindauer Race Day. Others opt for the Canterbury A&P Show and the established People’s Day on its three-day programme. The highlight is always the Grand Parade, which has earned world recognition for its size, colour and diversity.
It’s an event with history. Run over three days, the show is synonymous with warm nor’west weather, a long weekend, and the chance for city folk to watch the best of country life.
It’s also Cup Week for greyhound racing enthusiasts. The finals of the Southern Trust New Zealand Cup are at Addington on Thursday, 10 November. |
