Street donation gets $100,000 for foundation, thanks to team of grocers - one in particular

John Street had a good reason for being more animated than usual when Lincoln River issued a home stretch challenge at Auckland on Thursday night.

Watching the race from Lincoln Farms’ office beside the Alexandra Park birdcage, Street sprung to his his feet yelling for “River” who came up just short in second place.

And afterwards the Lincoln Farms’ boss, who has won some of the country’s most elite races, explained why the result meant so much to him, despite it being only a non-winners’ pace on a miserably wet mid-week night.

The Foodies Foundation helps its workers in need.Just a few days earlier he’d generously donated half of the horse at an auction to raise money for the Foodies Foundation, a gesture which saw the bidding reach an incredible $100,000, a major chunk of the $350,000 total on the night.

Street and his wife Lynne were among 400 people at Foodstuff’s 100-year celebration night, and he was moved to offer a share in the well bred colt when he perceived the auction wasn’t going so well, despite paintings by Kiwi artist Dick Frizzell and a Toyota van being sold.

So he approached Foodstuffs North Island CEO Chris Quin and was soon on stage giving a spiel about Lincoln Farms and the promising two-year-old, the first colt out of 2014 New Zealand Oaks winner Ideal Belle and by champion stallion Bettor’s Delight.

Bidding on the pacer was brisk and, appropriately, was finally secured by a team of PAK’nSAVE owner-operators, including Glenn “Grocer” Cotterill, who bought the Lincoln Rd branch in Henderson from Street in 2013.

Cotterill, who already races horses in special partnerships with Lincoln Farms, took a 25% share for $50,000 with the other 25% spread between 10 others.

“That’s why I wanted to win so much,” Street said. “The horse is still six months way from his best but it’s nice he showed them something tonight.”

Lincoln River … still six months away from showing his best. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.The Foodies Foundation is dear to the heart of Street, who paid for life-saving operations for some of his workers and helped other families in trouble when he ran the big West Auckland supermarket.

The foundation, set up in 2018 to help 25,000 team members and their families when times get really rough, has raised more than $2 million and helped more than 230 families.

On its website it states: “Whether it’s a team member who is suddenly homeless from a natural disaster, someone who has just been diagnosed with a serious illness, or a parent facing the loss of a child, we want to be able to help and help fast.”

Street is hoping Lincoln River matures into a regular money-winner for his new partners and the existing ones, David Turner, Phil Kelly, David Hooker, Barbara O’Mara, Dave Jones and Lin and Tina Guo.

Driver Zachary Butcher told Street the colt probably would have won last night had he not been forced to move three wide at the end of the back straight when the horse in front of him, Ronda, began to struggle in the death seat.

But the future still looks bright for Lincoln River who, in his first placing in five starts, managed to cut back a big lead which the leader The Bizzness held turning for home, closing to 1.4 lengths on the slushy track.

The winner, a Sweet Lou three-year-old, has some high profile owners of his own, namely New Zealand Bloodstock principals Sir Peter Vela and Andrew Seabrook, champion jockey James McDonald, Auckland Racing Club director Daniel Nakhle and Nearco Stud.