Te Rapa gets behind COVID-19 vaccine drive

Waikato Racing Club chief executive Andrew “Butch” Castles. Photo: Trish Dunell

The Waikato Racing Club is getting behind the push for Kiwis, particularly those in the racing community, to get double vaccinated against COVID-19, naming a race at their meeting on Tuesday the ‘Two Shots For Racing Mile’.

“It has become increasingly apparent with the Government mandating things around vaccinations that it is going to be so important that anyone who wants to participate in racing in the future has to be double vaccinated,” Waikato Racing Club chief executive Andrew “Butch” Castles said.

“We are taking a line from the Government’s approach with all the advertising about ‘two shots for summer’, ‘two shots for concerts’, and ‘two shots for festivals’.

“We had a spare race and I thought the race name ‘Two Shots For Racing’ was well worth getting out there, particularly on Melbourne Cup Day.

“It’s about getting to as many people as possible and suggesting to them that if they want to have a future in this great game they should be double-vaccinated.

“While it is a personal choice, from a racing club point of view we need to be sure that everyone here is safe. The more people that can be vaccinated the better.”

The club will hold a 10-race meeting on Tuesday, with the first race commencing at 11:58am, and the meeting’s feature, the Gr.3 Dunstan Horsefeeds Balmerino Stakes (2000m) jumping at 3:10pm.