Invercargill's Christmas At The Races meeting at Ascot Park is about as big as it gets for race days in the South.
As many as 6500 people will cram in to tents, grandstands or any structure that is stocked with refreshments to celebrate .
Some will bet, some will not. Some will watch the races, and some will not even realise they have started.
So long as they are there, the racing club and the whole southern industry will rejoice, and hope like anything one or two of them will catch the racing ``bug''.
Many believed Campbell should have warmed up for tomorrow's meeting by riding at Ellerslie yesterday in an international jockeys' series.
One of three teams in the series was made up of star apprentices.
Somehow Campbell did not make the team, despite being the country's leading apprentice.
Sam Weatherley (who is now based in Sydney), Wiremu Pinn and Ryan Elliot were chosen.
They are undoubtedly all talented riders. However, Campbell has not only ridden more winners in New Zealand this season than all of them but he has done so at a better strike rate.
It would have been only fair that he got a crack at the series.
So, here is a massive whack from the Turn It Up brickbat to the Auckland Racing Club.
Campbell gets the chance to show his talent in the saddle today at Wingatui before pairing with some seriously talented horseflesh at Invercargill tomorrow. There, trainer Claire Anderton will leg him aboard The Precious One, who looks a horse the Ascot Park punters could cash in on.
The classy 4yr-old comes off a strong performance in running second to Kiwi Ida in the Canterbury Breeders Stakes during the New Zealand Cup carnival.
The Precious One meets an even field over 1600m in race 5.
Campbell's 2kg claim brings the mare's weight down to 54kg.
She is undoubtedly the horse to beat and looks the standout of the Invercargill programme.
Campbell could take feature race honours in the Southland Crystals with Gallant Boy.
The horse was never in contention in the Cromwell Cup after getting a long way off the leaders.
With the benefit of that run, his only run over a middle distance this campaign, he looks ready to go a big race
Campbell rides Tommy Tucker in the open 1200m sprint.
The classy veteran is sure be better once he has a few more runs under his belt.
His stablemate, Riding High, looks a stronger winning chance in race 10.
Campbell has eight rides at Ascot Park tomorrow.
Here's hoping he can show those northerners what they missed out on.
Happy trails.
