Rodger Finlay put his money where his heart is at Trentham last Saturday.

Finlay and his wife, Emily, race Wellington Guineas winner Emily Margaret and will donate the winning stake from the $100,000 Group II race to a Christchurch community reeling from the weekend mosque attacks.

It was a decision the Christchurch couple took several hours before Emily Margaret shaded Vigor Winner and Dawn Patrol in the tightest finish of the day.

“We discussed it after breakfast [on Saturday morning] and decided that if we were lucky enough to get any stakemoney, that we would give it away,” Rodger said. “She was the only Christchurch-based horse in the field and we felt she was representing the Christchurch community.

“We didn’t have the money before the race and then one minutes, 24 seconds later we had the money. It was an easy decision to give it away.

“It’s been a pretty tough time for Christchurch and there’s still a very subdued mood down here.”

The net first prize in the Guineas, after the deduction of the winning percentages for the trainers and rider, will be approximately $50,000.  “We have also been contacted by friends who want to add their own contribution, so we should be able to build the donation up towards $100,000,” Rodger said.

“Em and I would like the money to go towards the bricks and mortar of the mosques and we are working with two groups to see if that can happen. If not, the money will go into one of the general funds.”

Though they will not get the prize money, Emily Margaret’s Guineas victory was still a hugely rewarding experience for the Finlays.  “It was our biggest win as owners and we will cherish that for ever,” Rodger said. “She is a Group II winner and hopefully she can go on to become a fantastic broodmare.”

Emily Margaret, a grey Pins filly who cost $55,000 as a yearling, has now won three black-type races and taken her career earnings past $150,000.

The Finlays have raced more than a dozen other horses together, all trained at Riccarton by Kevin and Pam Hughes, including Brown Eyed Grace and Ormond Road.

Brown Eyed Grace, like Emily Margaret, won the Canterbury Belle Stakes at Riccarton and Ormond Road ran second in the Metropolitan Trophy at Riccarton and fourth in a Canterbury Gold Cup.

Emily Finlay was also a part-owner of Get Up whose seven wins included the Riverton, Wairio and Tapanui Cups.

In addition to his racing and breeding interests, Rodger Finlay has played a part in the administration of the thoroughbred code. He has been on the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Board, stepping down last year, and a director of the Canterbury Jockey Club.

Rodger Finlay was also interviewed about the donation, you can hear the audio here.