The special memories attached to Riverton's Easter races
Memories of the big crowds at Riverton Easter meetings in the 1970s-80s remain vivid for Joanne Hillis.
Jamie Searle is a long-time racing writer. For more of his work check out the Southland Thoroughbreds Facebook page.
Riverton's Easter races hold a special place in the thoughts of Joanne Hillis, especially the memories of her father's success there as a trainer and jockey.
Joanne's father, Bill Hillis, trained nine winners of the Riverton Cup, from 1963 to 1981. When jumping races were held at Riverton Bill recorded 10 training and riding wins in the Great Western Steeplechase.
Easter racing will be held at the western Southland track on Saturday and Monday.
The Hillis family lived close to the racecourse at Riverton.
Memories of the big crowds at Riverton Easter meetings in the 1970s-80s remain vivid for Joanne.
"They were really good times and everyone enjoyed the weekend."Â
 Joanne recalled this week how she and sister Maxine, as children, used to ride their father's older jumpers to and from North Beach using a dirt track that went from alongside the main highway, behind the old hospital and onto the beach.
"As kids we'd ride them down to the beach ... we'd walk them in the water and trot them home," Joanne said.
"We were light weight and that kept the weight off their legs."
Next to the beach was another track, on unused land, with logs on it. Bill used the track and logs to teach horses to jump, including 2-year-olds.
"The horses used to work on the beach quite a bit. Sometimes we'd truck them there."
Another memory for Joanne was when her father announced his retirement from race-riding in 1978.
He rode Trial Run to win the Great Western Steeplechase and the next day while at a social golf event, he mentioned to a few people that Trial Run was his last race-ride.Â
"I don't think mum was disappointed [to hear that] ... she always worried about him being safe [riding over jumps]," Joanne said.
A Wingatui trainer, Joanne would love to win the Riverton Cup.
"It would be a nice one to get."
In 2015 she nominated Wild Bill for the Riverton Cup. However, he was the first emergency and didn't get a scratching to make the field. He ran in another race on the programme and won it.
Two years earlier Joanne lined up Ridley in the Cup and he finished fourth.
Bill Hillis' training wins in the Riverton Cup:
1981: Waideene
1980: Gold Peak
1975: Zee Bee
1974: Loch Linnhe
1972: Tourie
1971: Pole Star
1967: Macdonald
1965: Eiffel Tower
1963: ApathyÂ
Can remember those days when there were great horses including Great Sesation,great trainers great jockeys. The steeple racing was really enjoyed by huge crowds. Wayne Deegan.