122 | Corporate hospitality remains a cornerstone of Otago Racing Club’s offerings, with comprehensive packages available for Melbourne Cup Day, Cromwell Races and Otago Classics Day. RACING INDUSTRY Wingatui Racecourse “It was a way of us reaching out to the local community and was a great way for people to see what we are about. It was very popular.” More than just racing... Otago Racing Club has positioned itself as the premier destination for corporate functions, end-of-year celebrations, and community gatherings, with an exciting calendar of events for the 2025/26 racing season that promises something for everyone, says general manager Noelle Prince. The Otago Racing Club’s home venue, Wingatui Racecourse, located in Mosgiel, will host 13 race days throughout the season, including Melbourne Cup Day on the first Tuesday in November, combining live racing with largescreen coverage of the Melbourne Cup races. Corporate hospitality packages will be available alongside after-party entertainment featuring live musicians, complemented by the popular Fashion on the Field event. Boxing Day Races will provide family-friendly entertainment as a traditional picnic day, while the Anzac Day racing offers another family-oriented gathering for the community. The innovative Wingatui Family Fun Day on February 7 will feature fairground rides, pony rides, and face painting, building on last year’s successful debut. “The family fun day was a new event last year and will return this year,” explains Noelle. “It was a way of us reaching out to the local community and was a great way for people to see what we are about. It was very popular.” Wingatui Racecourse’s flagship Otago Classics Day on February 28 features $1million in prize money. “This is our biggest day,” says Noelle. “We have hospitality on the lawn, music, after parties and our Fashion on the Fields event where the winner heads to Auckland to represent Otago at Ellerslie Racecourse.” T T Karen Phelps The season extends beyond Wingatui itself, with the racecourse team managing the Cromwell Races at Cromwell Racecourse on November 30, providing racing enthusiasts with a unique Central Otago experience. Corporate hospitality remains a cornerstone of Otago Racing Club’s offerings, with comprehensive packages available for Melbourne Cup Day, Cromwell Races and Otago Classics Day. These include quality food and beverage packages, entertainment, betting facilities and bars, all positioned with excellent views of the big screen coverage. “We have great feedback, and have many corporates returning year after year,” says Noelle. “Around 75% of our packages sell in the first week of tickets being on sale to returning customers. We work very hard to ensure people have a great day.” Companies can purchase individual tables at marquees, or arrange private marquee hire, with packages designed not exclusively for corporate clients, but also suitable for groups, friends, families and special celebrations. Noelle says Otago Racing Club consistently seeks to differentiate its entertainment offerings at these events beyond traditional live bands, incorporating unique attractions such as bucking bulls and silent discos to enhance the racing experience. Leading the Otago Racing Club office operations is a young all-female team, which Noelle says provides a unique point of difference in the racing industry. This perspective influences the venue’s continuous evolution and focus on family-oriented events. The team’s commitment to community engagement reflects their personal understanding of family needs, with Noelle and other team members having young children themselves, ensuring events cater authentically to diverse audiences. Wingatui’s history stretches back to 1899, when the Otago Racing Club relocated from Forbury Park in Dunedin. The venue has since developed into a premium racing destination, fostering a strong thoroughbred breeding and training community around the track. The racecourse is also home to the Wingatui Function Centre, which hosts weddings, meetings and various occasions. Noelle invites people to get in touch or come to one of the events to see what Wingatui Racecourse is all about. Water • Sewerage • Gas • Telecommunications • Power Specialists in trenchless technology. Directional Drilling Thrust Boring Pipe Jacking Pipe Bursting (03) 489 5343 admin@kbcontractors.co.nz SUPPORTER OF OTAGO RACING NELLIES RESTAURANT & BAR LOOKING AFTER YOU FOR YOUR OCCASION CALL US ON 03 489 5062
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