The damage to lives, property and livelihood from Cyclone Gabrielle’s wrath has left a massive recovery process to come.

Yet out of this tragedy, still on-going, has been some remarkable acts, and none more so than the efforts of Hawke’s Bay Racing and its members in terms of support not only for the whole equine industry, but for the community in Hawke’s Bay so devastated from the cyclone’s path.

The club came through the initial cyclone relatively well as it was preparing for the Wairoa Cup, but quickly the club decided that running the event was not the right thing to do, and with the support of the industry, they abandoned the raceday.

Their attentions then quickly turned to what role they could play for the whole equine community and other racing clubs in the wider Hawke’s Bay region, and what support they could provide for the local community.

The club decided that as the biggest community asset in the region, that they could serve as a centre for the support operation. They were contacted by Civil Defence and then by HUHA in terms of mobilising the rescue operation. HUHA based themselves in two of the lounges, filling them with many displaced animals as a result of the cyclone's destruction, while Re-Source NZ, who managed household goods and provisions, took up another two lounges.

Taskforce NZ, an offshoot of the defence force, moved into the facility for their accommodation and command centre, while the club opened their doors to the local community, providing somewhere to shower, power-up all their electronics, provide internet and as well as that, provided up to 150 hot meals for three evenings free, while the power was out and supermarkets closed.

The club continues to be a centre for distribution with 100s of deliveries from around the country, to gift every imaginable household item, animal food, supplies and clothing.

Attention also turned to the equine community delivering up to 40 pallets per day of petfood for distribution, linking closely with Waipukurau Jockey Club and Riding for the Disabled, including hay, horse feed and vet support.

They are also working closely with Dunstan Horsefeeds who are providing feed to the whole equine community.

This not only shows how wonderful this club has been but also shows that a racing club is an incredibly valuable resource in every community in this country.

Aaron Hamilton and his team at Hawke’s Bay Racing have been humbled by the support for the community with around 80,000 household items gifted to locals by community organisations.

Soon the club will turn its attention back to its core focus of racing, having already lost two important racedays.

They will focus on the Power Farming Hawke’s Bay Cup Day on 15 April, and feedback from the community is that it will be a timely opportunity for everyone in Hawke’s Bay to come off the farm, take a day off and enjoy a great raceday.

The event is being supported by the East Coast Rural Support Trust and Power Farming, and the club is planning a special community day with a great racing card but also plenty of community activities.

It will be a wonderful opportunity for the club themselves, led by Aaron Hamilton, to also take a deep breath, and reflect on a truly remarkable community service that they have played.

We at NZTR are humbled and incredibly proud of the efforts of Hawke’s Bay Racing and they deserve massive commendation.