I'd hardly describe myself as a leader of the sartorial pack, but I have been warned by the first lady of Oamaru harness racing, Bev Williamson, that my presence is required in the Fashion On The Fields competition at Oamaru tomorrow. Now, I'm not one to enter these things - I'm far more comfortable in jeans, maybe a nice pastel shirt and a casual pair of shoes - but when Bev talks, you listen.
Bev says there are weekends for two to Queenstown for the best-dressed man and best-dressed woman so get in and enter to make sure the best-dressed man title isn't stolen by some unkempt journalist from Dunedin.
There's no word through yet whether leading Oamaru driver and fashion guru Matthew Williamson will be entering wearing his best stonewash jeans and white Pony sneakers, also known as the ''sneans'' combo.
. . . and memories
Tomorrow's meeting also marks the first running of the Kevin Greaney Memorial, in memory of a stalwart of the Oamaru club. Kevin Greaney was always a friendly face to me during my two years in Oamaru last decade, and he always enjoyed a chat about all things racing. He died aged 88 on, appropriately enough, New Zealand Trotting Cup day last month. The Kevin Greaney Memorial is the best field of the day, so here's hoping for a great race by which to remember Kevin.
Ivana explanation
Apparently my suggestion in last week's column that Ivanskavinskyskvar was a ''horrible'' name was not tremendously well received by his owners who, through his trainer Steven Prince, said I should Google the name for some background. It appears the name traces back to an old Russian poem about two heroes named Ivan Skavinsky Skavar and Abdul Abulbul Amir, who end up in a fight and kill each other. By all accounts, the ballad has been tweaked over the years and there are a few X-rated versions around.
I still maintain it's a tongue-twister and for proof of that, the horse is called ''Ivan et cetera'' at the Princes' property.
Living in a digital world
For those of you who are not the most tech-savvy types, you may not be aware that the gentlemen in the ODT sport and racing department have now entered the world of social media - albeit three to four years since it became cool. We just wanted to make sure The Facebook wasn't a passing fad, you see. If you pop on to Facebook and search for Otago Daily Times Sport And Racing or simply type www.facebook.com/odtsportracing into your browser, there we are. Give us a like and you'll get links to stories, a chance to discuss the yarns and alternative ways of contacting us.
Lazy Fiver
The aforementioned Ivanskavinskyskvar couldn't do the business at Cromwell on Sunday, so let's give Jessica Sanchez an each-way hope on debut in race 9 at Oamaru tomorrow.
