The man in the red coat, Ross Coles has been awarded the NZTR Outstanding Contribution to Racing Award. Retiring after over 60 years as Clerk Of The Course, Ross has dedicated a lifetime to his role and has become an icon of racing at Ellerslie. Coles was just 14 years old when he put on the red coat for the first time, following in the footsteps of his father Ray who was Chief Clerk of the Course at Ellerslie for over three decades. A lifetime of keeping our jockeys and horses safe, there is no one more deserving than Mr Coles for this special recognition.