The future for this year's Waimate Trotting Club meeting is a lot brighter than it was a few months ago.
The track and grandstands at the Waimate course were battered by wind in September - just a week after Lex Williams took over the club presidency.
But things are looking up 10 days out from the club's annual meeting on December 15.
Williams said a lot of hard work from the committee and contractors have ensured the meeting could be run at Waimate.
The public grandstand will be in operation - albeit without a roof - but the members' grandstand will not be open other than rooms underneath the stand which are used by raceday officials.
''We're hoping for a fine day,'' Williams said.
The swab box was damaged badly in the September storm and has been ''renewed'', Williams said.
A large marquee will be set up closer to the track to attract punters closer to the action, while shade tents will also be spread out around the course.
The maiden races have all received an extra $1000 in funding to bring the maiden stakes to $7000 per race.
The Waimate Cup will remain at a stake of $14,999 to keep the race under the metropolitan penalty threshold. On arrival in Australia, horses that have raced in New Zealand are penalised a metropolitan win for every race they have won in New Zealand worth $15,000 or more.
Williams said local sponsors had come on board, including a losing ticket draw sponsored by New World, along with a variety of prizes which included a ride on the mobile vehicle.
Williams, who bred last year's best 2yr-old trotter, One Over Da Moon, with his wife, Heather, said the Majestic Son colt had been jogging at home before being sent back to Leeston trainer Paul Nairn recently. One Over Da Moon will be aimed at the 3yr-old trotting features from March onwards.
His dam, One Over Kenny, foaled a Love You filly three weeks ago.
