The Forbury Park trots have a lot to answer for.
Ken Rutherford - test cricketer, bookmaker, TV presenter, and now racing club chief executive - still has fond memories of traipsing along to the racecourse on Victoria Rd to have a beer and make a quid.
The man affectionately known as ''Rudders'' during his 56 tests and 121 one-day internationals for the New Zealand cricket team was a regular at the trots during his time with the Albion club, Otago and New Zealand before he left in the mid-1990s.
''I've always been keen on racing - it was something that was always a part of me. When I played a bit of cricket, it was something I could get away from the cricket with and go to the races or follow the races.''
That was easily done at Albion's Culling Park clubrooms where - as with many clubs - the genteel sport of cricket and the speculative nature of horse racing seemed to be comfortable bedfellows.
''I remember Tuesdays and Thursday nights, you'd go down there for a couple of flagons after practice and invariably the TV would be on - or in the old days the radio would be on - and you'd be listening to the harness racing at Addington.
''And if it was at Forbury Park, you'd probably be over at the course.''
Racing is a serious business now for Rutherford (47), after he took over the reins at the Waikato Racing Club at the start of August.
The Foxbridge Plate meeting has been and gone, and Rutherford's attention now turns to three Christmas At The Races meeting at Te Rapa, including the Gold Cup meeting on December 14, which attracted about 15,000 fans last year.
''It's pretty much sold out already. We've got marquees on both sides of the straight. There's probably a limit to how much more we can do.''
It hasn't all been a gentle run along the rails for Rutherford after two months.
He arrived to discover Waikato Draught, which had sponsored the club's group 1 sprint in early February since 2001, had decided to end its sponsorship of the race
''We're fortunate that the Oaks Stud have come on board with one of the big races around that time, and Fairview Ford, as well. We're lucky to have plenty of sponsors around.
''But it's a time-honoured race, so we're hoping we can get another [sponsor].''
Rutherford's cricketing career in New Zealand ended abruptly after his dumping as New Zealand captain in 1995.
He took up a contract with Transvaal in South Africa before coaching Ireland at the turn of the 21st century.
Rutherford returned to New Zealand to become a bookmaker at the TAB in Wellington. He later led the sports betting department, and dabbled in some television presenting on Trackside.
Both roles served him well, as he took up a job heading the Singapore Pools sports betting operation in 2006 before finding himself back in South Africa, as chief executive of racing channel Tellytrack in 2011.
Having cast his eye over racing industries in several countries, the similarities are clear to Rutherford.
''I attended the NZTR forum [last month] and they were going over the key points where New Zealand racing is at the moment, and it very much mirrors where South Africa has been over the last few years.
''It's very hard to grow racing with the model that is in place. I think it's accepted around New Zealand there are too many racecourses that we're struggling to support with the maintenance and infrastructure.''
In thoroughbred racing alone, there are 52 tracks used for race meetings in New Zealand. By contrast, South Africa - a country of more than 51 million people - has nine tracks, soon to be seven.
One aspect of New Zealand he was glad to return to was the relative safety after life in Johannesburg.
Rutherford and Pretoria-born wife Gail bought a house on the south side of Cambridge over the internet, and daughters Caitlin (13) and Holly (11) are appreciating more freedom.
''Johannesburg is fairly limiting in terms of being a kid. We bought them bikes when we got back to Johannesburg and they rode them about three times, I think.
''We're living out in Cambridge, and being a kid is a lot easier there . . . so I think they're enjoying it.''
'Rutherford kept a keen eye on Otago's campaign in the Champions League in India, with son Hamish opening the batting, and was stunned the Volts got to 15 straight twenty20 wins.
''It's an amazing record. I just find that incredible - it's just the nature of that type of cricket that it's so often a toss of the coin.''
Rutherford also has high praise for Volts coach Vaughn Johnson, but wasn't so kind when recalling their first encounter on the cricket pitch.
''We played against each other when I was in the King's High School First XI and he was third grade for Kaikorai. He could hardly bowl a hoop down a hill.
''He probably had more chance of backing a winner at the St Kilda TAB than he did of getting a wicket on a Saturday, but he's done really well and I'm pleased for his sake he's come back down to Otago.''
His other son, Tom, works in hospitality in Dunedin and plays senior cricket for Carisbrook-Dunedin.
''He's cruising along, and we hope he can get up to Hamilton at some stage.''
Speaking of Dunedin, a visit down south is on the cards for Rutherford and his family within the next year.
''I've only been back for a couple of months, but we'll definitely do a trip to Dunedin and Central Otago in April.
''I'll no doubt head down to Wobbly's Bar. I've got some great memories there - it's part of the fabric in society down in Dunedin.''
''I remember the old Dunedin Festival days in the last weekend of January when Forbury Park had a three-night meeting.''
