Race 'tote ladies' real stayers

A small group of women who devote more than 50 days a year to attending races throughout Otago and Southland say they know far more about punters than about horseflesh.

The trio - Noeline Stoddart, of Dunedin, and Shirley French and Dawn Keene, both of Mosgiel, have more than 130 combined years of experience as "tote ladies" and were at work behind the totalisator at the Omakau races yesterday.

Mrs Stoddart has been working on the totalisator for about 52 years, while Mrs French and Mrs Keene have each clocked up more than 40 years.

"We're the 'old crew', but we're a happy band and we love this job," Mrs Keene said.

They work at meetings all over Otago and Southland and all enjoy tripping around the region. They are regulars at Omakau, Kurow, Invercargill and Riverton races, among others, and occasionally work as far afield as Christchurch.

"It's a great job. You see all sorts, but the people are so friendly and we enjoy each other's company," Mrs French said.

The longest stretch of work is four days in a row, during the Christmas holidays.

They can place a bet themselves if they want, but not from their own totalisator machine.

"Mostly, though, we don't bother. We're busy enough dealing with the punters and if there's a quiet spell, we catch up with what each other's been doing," Mrs Keene said.

Central Otago Racing Club president Alistair Eckhoff was pleased with the growing popularity of the Cockies and Contractors race meeting, which was held for the first time last year.

"We've got a good crowd along and there's 15 or 20 corporate groups in marquees on site as well, so that side of things is also growing," Mr Eckhoff said.

- lynda.van.kempen@odt.co.nz