Following a successful first day of Spring Racing, we caught up with Hawke's Bay Racing's Events & Marketing Manager Sam Alexander. Hailing from the well known Alexander family, Sam has combined her passion for racing and events and is an asset to the team at Hawke's Bay Racing!

 

 

My Mum and Dad (Simon and Katrina Alexander) train race horses so it has always been in my blood! They’ve trained ever since I was born and it is so great to now be working in the industry with them.

 

 

I was always keen on sport – with no idea what I actually wanted to do. I think at one stage I wanted to be a race commentator! Haha!

 

 

Drake, Miles Teller, Amy Schumer.

 

 

My first job was working for a rugby/sport/talent agency in Auckland. I worked there for a couple of years after going to Uni, before heading back to Hawke's Bay.

 

 

I really enjoy what I do and I want people to come to our racedays and have the best time and leave feeling happy. I take pride in how we present our racedays and ourselves as a Club which drives me to work hard.

 

 

Our Colliers Spring Racing Carnival is arguably the best racing Carnival in NZ (I maybe a bit biased). All three days have Group 1 action and are great days to attend! Karaka Millions night is on my list to attend!

 

 

There are so many avenues to be involved in the racing industry and so much going on behind the scenes to create an amazing raceday! It’s such a unique and rewarding industry to be involved in. Not sure there’s another sport/industry where the highs are so high and the lows can be so low.

 

 

The industry is full of amazing stories, passion and emotion and it’s great to be able to witness that on raceday.

 

 

I’ve loved watching my parents have such a successful season last season particularly with La Crique. It’s been so awesome to watch and I really couldn’t be more proud of them through everything they’ve been through. I'm looking forward to seeing what’s in store for them with her this season!

 

 

I think it’s important to love what you’re doing. Also being open to continue learning about the industry – there are so many facets of it!