Royalty at races

Press, 24 February 1977, Page 1

Royalty at races

By I

PHILLIP MELCHIOR,

, NZPA staff correspondent

Auckland

Horses, history, and hosts and hosts of people marked the second day of the Royal tour as it dashed around the northern part of New Zealand yesterday. "he Queen and Prince Philip had a taste of the provinces — they’ visited North Auckland and Waikato before returning in the evening to Auckland —- as well as a hint of things to come during their fortnight’s tour.

After a fleeting morning visit to Whangarei Airport, the Roval couple had their only chance to relax when they went to the races *.t Te Rapa, near Hamilton.

From there they drove through the countryside to Mystery Creek, site of the national building field day and the Clydesdale museum. before flying back to Auckland and a garden party' at Government House.

The Queen wore a pleated dress of periwinkle blue and white crepe de Chine, printed with a white trellis design at the hemline and on the sleeves and bodice, and a hat of white straw, swathed in blue chiffon.

A spokesman for the Royal couple assured reporteru that the Queen never bets on the races but at Te Rapa this did not appear to lessen her inte-

rest as she watched closely through a binocular.

The feature race was the Queen Elizabeth Cup. She presented the cup to the manager of Good Lord, a chestnut gelding ridden by David Peake, which won in a course record. The horse, owned by Mr M. L. Hines — a Las Vegas divorce lawyer — is managed by Mr Bill Paterson.

In Auckland, 1200 invited guests packed the normally spacious lawns of Government House, to attend a garden party given by the Governor-General and Lady Blundell. After the garden party. Prince Philip attended a dinner of the Employer’s Federation.