Sports Comment with Nick Tolerton | Canterbury Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Canterbury

The lugubrious physiognomy of Winnie Peters should make an unlikely pin-up.

But whatever their political stripe or gender, he's certainly that for racing folk.

Wherever you go in Cup Week, you'll find owners, trainers, and racing administrators beaming over the healthy state of their industry thanks to the tax relief the Minister for Racing engineered. At Riccarton, every race on the three days of Cup Week is worth a minimum of $20,000.

Race Week has always been an occasion for Christchurch, but the big days at Addington and Riccarton, particularly the two New Zealand Cup days, have become even bigger, even more colourful.

Don't tell the boss, but I've been in the habit for several years of snucking away from work early to watch the New Zealand Cup at Addington. By that stage of the day it's a bit surreal when you seem to be the only sober person among 25,000, as you step carefully over and around collapsing sun-scorched lads OD'ed on assorted sponsors' beverages and their accompanying nymphets falling out of their frocks.

Cup Day at Riccarton, of course, is a more genteel experience. The fashion side of race week now almost overshadows the actual thing with the 'orses, and Trinny & Susannah would find Riccarton less fertile territory for surgery than Addington.

The pandemonium around local stables this week has been matched recently in the commercial alleys of our fair city.

Rosemary has combed the upper High St boutiques, raided Victoria St, ransacked Quinns and Merivale, pillaged Northlands and Westfield, all in pursuit of a winning Cup Day combo.

When all seemed resolved, there was one crisis to come. The Siamese twins, Matteo and Luca, thought the ornamentation on her hat was a new toy for them to play with. The hunt is on for a replacement artificial flower.

It's a bit easier for blokes. I'll reluctantly climb into a suit and tie on Saturday. Not quite in the league of Winnie's, though - with his flash three-pieces, no doubt the Minister for Racing can lead the way in the fashion stakes, too.