Riverton's biggest day: Town's businesses in for boost
"I've talked to a few of the shop owners and it's their biggest weekend of the year. It outstrips Christmas and New Year - there's so many out of towners here."
Jamie Searle is a long-time Southland racing writer. For more of work check out the Southland Thoroughbreds Facebook page.
Riverton is preparing for its biggest event of the year - the Easter races.
The president of the Riverton Racing Club, Trevor Brown, said the town's businesses gained a boost when visitors arrived for the races. Racing will be held at the seaside town on Saturday and Monday.
"It's totally packed out, in the bars, restaurants, cafes and shops," Brown said.
"It's always hard to get accommodation [at Easter].
"I've talked to a few of the shop owners and it's their biggest weekend of the year. It outstrips Christmas and New Year - there's so many out of towners here."
Businesses at Colac Bay, Orepuki and Tuatapere also benefited from visitors in western Southland for the races.
The Riverton Racing Club had a good rapport with the town's community and surrounding areas, Brown said.
"A lot of people get behind the racing club. even people who don't go to the races still put their hand up to help," Brown said.
Women affiliated with the Riverton RSA do the club's race day catering and they along with others from the town and surrounding areas make up most of the RRC's workers at race meetings.
As a way of giving back to the Riverton community, the racing club sponsors childrens' rugby in the town. The sponsorship is going into its sixth year.
Brown thought with fine weather, 3000 or 4000 people could be oncourse on Saturday.
"A lot of people come along regardless of the weather."
Meanwhile, Brown is in the Carriers Arms Racing Syndicate that owns one of the favourites for the Kennedy Building-sponsored Riverton Cup on Saturday.
The syndicate's horse, Shockallia, is trained at the Riverton racecourse by Kelvin Tyler, who also has Prince Alby in the Cup.
A lot of the syndicate members are involved with the racing club and customers of the Carriers Arms Hotel in Riverton's main street.
The syndicate and Tyler went close to winning the Cup last year when their runner, Kilowatt, ran second.