A ride down memory lane: Bill Heap, sponsorship manager at Auckland Racing Club

With our history spanning over 160 years, we thought it high time to ask a few (not so old!) friends of Auckland Racing Club (ARC) to recall their favourite memories of racing here at Ellerslie.

Today we chat to ARC sponsorship manager, Bill Heap, about his favourite memory.

Bill entertaining guests at one of our season launch events

Says Bill…

“My best memory of Ellerslie is also potentially one of my worst!

“I travelled up from Napier with a couple of mates to watch their horse, Miss Stanima, contest the Auckland Cup on New Year’s Day in 1990.

“The trip was made worthwhile when the horse took out the race and paid $13 so we all collected handsomely!

The worst part comes in as nine months earlier I (foolishly as it turns out!) turned down the opportunity to take a share in the horse – meaning her big win resulted in the loss of what would have been my share of the $312,000 stake!”