New Zealand Trotting Cup fan will miss race for first time since 1972

Monday, 8 November 2021

Christchurch woman Anne Fogarty, 82, has been to every New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington since 1972. She always wore something different, as looking glamorous was important.

It’s the roar that Anne Fogarty will miss.

And after attending the New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington Raceway at least 50 times, it’s a hard pill to swallow that she won’t be hearing the sound of the crowd for the first time since 1972.

This year organisers have closed Addington Raceways Cup Week harness racing events to the public for the first time in their 117-year history, due to Covid-19 alert level restrictions.

Fogarty could have notched another cup day onto her long list as a member but felt the move to a smaller racing industry day with masks on was not her glass of champers.

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Fogarty and her husband Tony enjoy the excitement of the crowds at the NZ Trotting Cup, but she will be sitting this year’s restricted event out for the first time since 1972.

Instead, she and husband Tony will take the fizzy to her son’s place, and cheer the harness racers on in front of his widescreen television.

But the fine hats and outfits she has collected over the years will stay firmly in the wardrobe this year, in stark contrast to the normally glamorous day of hooves, slinky fabrics and bubbles.

Happy photos of stylish couples at Addington from a bygone era adorn Fogarty's Ilam home, including one of her parents Joe and Nancy Corrigan in 1937, replete with hats and smart coats.

Back then it was the glitziest day on the Canterbury calendar as photos of Fogarty with her brother, Tony Corrigan, in 1964 attest, and with a father who owned horses and loved to take his family on long trips to see horse races around the South Island, the apple was never going to fall far from the tree.

Along with the glamour and excitement, Fogarty has some unique memories over the years including the time the Queen attended with then Prime Minister Rob Muldoon in 1977.

As the “petite” monarch arrived, Fogarty thought the crowd would burst into instantaneous cheering, but it was Muldoon who stole the day with the crowd calling out “gidday Rob,” as he walked among them.

“He was a real character.”

Fogarty with her brother Tony Corrigan at the NZ Trotting Cup day at Addington Raceway in 1964.

Earnings wise, she has never hit it big at Addington, although there was the time her brother’s purchase of old horse Rolex scored the couple their first television in 1965.

Considered a has-been, Rolex ran at the Ashburton Queen’s Birthday races and horse miraculously found a boost of energy on the last long strait and won, much to the family's amazement.

Paying the equivalent of $5883 to win, Fogarty was delighted her 10 shillings each way saw the pair pocket $3457.

Fogarty’s parents Joe and Nancy Corrigan loved to attend the NZ Trotting Cup at Addington Raceway. Here they are near the entrance in 1937.

Back then, television sets were new and expensive, so they were left with little change when they purchased their $3241 set.

But it has always been the New Zealand Trotting Cup – and one horse in particular – that has caught Fogarty’s eye.

“Highland Fling was the best.”

Michael Stanton turned quite a few heads at the 2019 NZ Trotting Cup with his unique hat designed by couture milliner Susi Meares.

The New Zealand-bred standardbred racehorse won two New Zealand Trotting Cup races in 1947 and 1948, winning the latter with a handicap of almost 55 metres.

Fogarty will be one of many conducting private parties on Tuesday with Christchurch’s fashion and hospitality businesses urging locals to dress to the nines and hit up champagne breakfasts around the city.

Various hospitality venues advertised special Cup Day events in an effort to attract some of the nearly $4.4 million Cup and Show Week was estimated to normally accrue, according to ChristchurchNZ, the city’s economic agency.

Christchurch Casino announced it would hold a Best Dressed Competition to be judged by fashion industry expert Abby Button.

To enter, contestants needed to take a photo in front of a designated casino wall and upload to Instagram.

Fashionista Michael Stanton would normally be gearing up for the annual Cup Day fashion competition.

The 2017 Best Dressed Man at the Fashion in the Field comparison at Riccarton Park Racecourse caused a stir in 2019 at the New Zealand Trotting Cup when he sported a bespoke black headpiece.

Stanton had decided not to attend this year’s event, instead preferring to wear his new Chinese tailored seersucker suit on Saturday, if it arrived in time, at a private party for the Riccarton New Zealand Cup meet.

“It’s disappointing because we don’t have the virus,” he said.

Stanton was determined to make the most of it this weekend, but would keep an eye on Addington on Tuesday.

And Fogarty’s hot tip for New Zealand’s richest harness racing event?

“Any of the favourites would be a good bet.”