The first ever Celebrity Dual Sulky Race held at the Addington 2010 NZ Trotting Cup where we organised for Miss Universe New Zealand 2010 Ria Van Dyke, Phoenix Owner Terry Serepisos, NZ Next Top Model judge Colin Mathura Jeffree, More FM Radio Personality Gary McCormack and More FM competition winner Mike Quinn to be on the track.

We understand there was a bit of friendly rivalry between Ria and Terry in the week leading up to the race -with each expecting they would take out the title of Celebrity Race Winner.  It was more about the status rather than the winnings - of which was the right to gloat....

The beautiful Ria Van Dyke started the day in a Jane Yee creation, and by midday had donned the Horsepower Silks, helmet and spirit.  The boys were off getting changed themselves and no doubt plotting on how to prevent the only female in the race, winning.

The line up was as follows:

Ria Van Dyke and co-driver Anthony Butt on Harnetts Creek

Terry Serepisos and co-driver Ricky May on Russian Road

Colin Mathura Jeffries and co-driver Colin De Filippi on Hardly Matters

Gary McCormack and co-driver Mark Jones on Randy Andy

Mike Quinn and co-driver Dexter Dunn on Pocket Me

A 1800mtr race around Addington track with some dicey moments led to an exciting race with a beautiful finish.

And the winner is....

Watch the race here

On the day there were bubbles, film crews, glamorous girls and famous faces.  Horsepower had the pleasure of being acknowledged internationally  when the Australian travel show Getaway filmed a segment for their show of us 'horsing around'.

Kelly Landry (the host) and the production crew spent a day out at Horsepower, greeting, grooming and racing the best that we have to offer.  It was a full day filming for a 3.30 minute segment, with shots taken from every conceivable angle,  including a camera taped onto the sulky for the real action shots.

Some of our biggest stake winners were released onto the track that day - Harnetts Creek, Randy Andy,  Russian Road  and Hardly Matters.  There may have been a bit of a rig up with Kelly from Getaway winning the race, but regardless, it was an enjoyable day as usual, out on the track.

Check out the final cut that played throughout Australia here... 

On the day there were bubbles and nibbles and fawning fans - and Winston Peters was in a sulky.

In his role as Racing Minister, Mr Peters flew into Christchurch yesterday to attend the opening of Horsepower, a tourism venture offering the horse-fearing public a chance to have a go at harness racing by way of a tandem sulky.Fresh from the plane trip, Mr Peters removed his sharp pinstripe jacket and shiny black shoes to make way for silver racing silks and gumboots. His coiffured hair was covered with a hair net then squashed by a protective helmet. Time in the freezing works had taught him to bear with sartorial inelegance, he said.

Mr Peters is the darling of the racing industry after announcing in May that the Government would put up $9 million over three years in prizes for some of New Zealand's premier races, as part of a co-sponsorship deal with the industry.

Driving with Horsepower owner Lindsay Kerslake behind retired trotting speedster Pocket Me, Mr Peters appeared comfortable in the sulky but blamed the judder of the gravelly track for his tremulous voice after the race.

There was some question over which horse was first past the post but Mr Peters claimed it was he who had won and promised the same of his seat in this year's election.

And though he was surrounded by supporters and the question of donations had not been posed, Peters used the microphone to continue his tirade against the media.

"These [racing media] will be okay because they do practical things like follow racing and give out honest commentary but the ones I deal with are the worst bunch of meerkats in the history of man and womankind."

Mr Peters has been under fire over donations from wealthy businessmen and faces a privileges hearing on Monday into claims surrounding a $100,000 donation from billionaire Owen Glenn to his legal fund.

There have also been questions surrounding a $25,000 donation from developer Sir Robert Jones which was paid into the previously unknown Spencer Trust, and donations from the Vela family, leading lights in the racing and fishing industries. 

Our Canadian visitors were brilliant fun celebrating in our usual fashion.

Colin DeFillipi New Zealand's Representative for the 2007 world driving champs, was narrowly beaten in the last event of 20 races and conceded by 3 points to become 2nd in the world.

We have the privilege of racing with Colin at  conferences.  Seen here with Diane at the 2006 International plant breeders conference.

Robbie Deans - new Wallabies coach 2008 - drove Master Muscian when we hosted the 2003 Great rugby Luncheon.

He loved every minute of it .

Robert Cameron and Yulia Townsend

Robert 1983 world champion and Yulia international singing sensation while filming for "The Great Outdoors" Travel show.
To view the TV Show The Great Outdoors episode on Horsepower featuring Tom Williams, host and dancing with the stars winner, and 2004 world champion Mark Jones click here.  Horses included Honkin Vision, Lyell Creek, Pocket Me, Happy Asset, Ermis, for the filming of the show which screened July 2007.

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