Peters hits the track in a sulky

DAVID HALLETT/The Press

PHOTO FINISH: Winston Peters, the Minister for Racing, and Lindsay Kerslake, Horsepower owner, lead the field in a double sulky at the launch of a tourism venture in Christchurch.

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There were bubbles and nibbles and fawning fans - and Winston Peters was in a sulky.

In his role as Racing Minister, Mr Peters flew into Christchurch yesterday to attend the opening of Horsepower, a tourism venture offering the horse-fearing public a chance to have a go at harness racing by way of a tandem sulky.

Fresh from the plane trip, Mr Peters removed his sharp pinstripe jacket and shiny black shoes to make way for silver racing silks and gumboots. His coiffured hair was covered with a hair net then squashed by a protective helmet. Time in the freezing works had taught him to bear with sartorial inelegance, he said.

Mr Peters is the darling of the racing industry after announcing in May that the Government would put up $9 million over three years in prizes for some of New Zealand's premier races, as part of a co-sponsorship deal with the industry.

Driving with Horsepower owner Lindsay Kerslake behind retired trotting speedster Pocket Me, Mr Peters appeared comfortable in the sulky but blamed the judder of the gravelly track for his tremulous voice after the race.

There was some question over which horse was first past the post but Mr Peters claimed it was he who had won and promised the same of his seat in this year's election.

And though he was surrounded by supporters and the question of donations had not been posed, Peters used the microphone to continue his tirade against the media.

"These [racing media] will be okay because they do practical things like follow racing and give out honest commentary but the ones I deal with are the worst bunch of meerkats in the history of man and womankind."

Mr Peters has been under fire over donations from wealthy businessmen and faces a privileges hearing on Monday into claims surrounding a $100,000 donation from billionaire Owen Glenn to his legal fund.

There have also been questions surrounding a $25,000 donation from developer Sir Robert Jones which was paid into the previously unknown Spencer Trust, and donations from the Vela family, leading lights in the racing and fishing industries.

- © Fairfax NZ News