134 | Event venue open to everyone The SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup Day is scheduled for Saturday 13 December, and is a race day favourite everyone circles in the diary. LEISURE Waikato Thoroughbred Racing T T Bernadette Cooney “We’re an event centre first and foremost outside of race days. We have the parking, the views, the catering, and the flexibility to host just about anything.” The Waikato Thoroughbred Racing Club (WTR) has kicked off ticket sales for its 2025/26 race calendar, with some of the hottest dates selling fast, particularly for popular feature race day, the Sky City Hamilton Waikato Cup Day. WTR CEO Andrew Castles encourages race goers to book their sites and their seats early to avoid disappointment. “Tickets for Waikato Cup Day went on sale first of August and some areas have sold out already. Other areas have tickets available, so we would encourage anyone who wants to be part of that day to book early,” says Andrew. The SkyCity Hamilton Waikato Cup Day is scheduled for Saturday 13 December, and is a race day favourite everyone circles in the diary. The new feature race season begins with Labour Day’s Sarten Memorial Raceday on Monday 27 October 2025 at Te Rapa – a highlight for three-year-old contenders. November brings the Legacy Lodge Sprint Raceday on Saturday 8 November, offering both racing thrills and early-bird Christmas function packages. “There’ll be corporate Christmas package options available on that day for those choosing to hold their Christmas function before the rush,” says Andrew. Another popular feature race day on the season’s calendar is Lodge Christmas Raceday on Saturday 20 December, a favourite for festive workplace functions. Tickets and corporate bookings for all major meetings are available via the WTR website, or by contacting the Te Rapa Event & Function Centre. While Te Rapa Racecourse is the beating heart of Waikato racing, hosting 19 or 20 annual race days, its role as a year-round event venue is equally impressive. The Te Rapa Event & Function Centre is open to the public, hosting everything from corporate seminars and trade shows to weddings, milestone birthdays and private celebrations. “People sometimes think you have to be a racing fan or a club member to use our spaces; you don’t,” says Andrew. “We’re an event centre first and foremost outside of race days. We have the parking, the views, the catering, and the flexibility to host just about anything.” The venue’s six distinct spaces offer panoramic racetrack views, air-conditioned comfort, and capacities ranging from intimate gatherings to 500-strong crowds. The Lodge Lounge on the third floor boasts floor-to-ceiling glass and double balconies, a top pick for weddings and formal functions. The Kentucky Lounge serves as a conference and medium-scale event space. The Herbie Dyke Lounge suits smaller corporate workshops, while the Centennial Lounge and Flemington Lounge cater to celebrations and trade shows. “It’s like booking any major event venue in the city, except ours comes with wide-open views of the racecourse and a unique atmosphere,” says Andrew. Te Rapa Event & Function Centre’s in-house catering is provided by Kerr & Ladbrook, who are well known throughout the Waikato, and can tailor a menu for any option. In trackside news, Waikato Thoroughbred Racing confirms the club is progressing towards a Greenfield solution for racing and training, seeking to secure land to develop. “It’s an ongoing project and we’ll be going back to our members before progressing to the next stage,” Andrew says. Impress your guests with Montana Food and Events From client meetings to end-of-year celebrations, Montana Food and Events delivers fresh, thoughtful catering for every occasion. Whether it’s a corporate lunch, a private dinner or something a little more festive, we’ll bring the experience to you with seamless service and food designed to impress. Now booking for the festive season. Let’s make your celebration unforgettable. Talk to our team today 07 839 3459 | info@montanafoodandevents.co.nz montanafoodandevents.co.nz Dedicated to providing our clients with reliable and stress-free audio visual hire solutions to ensure the smooth running of their events. 07 957 1846 | 029 251 8846 info@anyav.co.nz anyav.co.nz Hamilton Projectors,LED Screens, Conference Systems Sound Systems, Zoom meetings, Video Cameras Live Streaming, Lighting and more 0274107770 admin@tclearthworks.co.nz TCL Earthworks Proud Associate of Waikato Thoroughbred Racing Contact us for all your arena and stable requirements
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