THE GOULBURN Harness Racing Club is pleased to announce the major sponsors for this season’s ‘Carnival of Cups’ race meeting which will be held on Sunday afternoon the 22nd January, 2012.
Headlining the afternoon of quality racing will be the $30,000 Frank and Edna Day Goulburn Cup over 2240m. The event, which will be held for only the 3rd time since the club resumed racing, is sponsored by Divall’s Earthmoving and Bulk Haulage. First run in 2009, the race was taken out by the old Dubbo marvel Karloo Mick, whilst the 2010 version saw star pacer Washakie make it a one act affair when he scored a track record breaking 1:55.9 mile rate win for trainer Luke McCarthy.
Divall’s Earthmoving and Bulk Haulage have not only kindly supported the club through this sponsorship; they also recently completed a major reconstruction of the race track following last year’s floods. The final product provides for Goulburn a track which is technically as advanced as any other major Australian harness track.
At the re-opening meeting last month the quality of the design and construction shone through when two track records were broken although the day was anything but ideal for record performances after cold and wet weather persisted. Given the promise shown by those performances, it’s only a matter of time before the 2240m cup distance is reduced further from the mark Washakie set earlier this year.
The second feature race on the programme is the Goulburn Rose Pace for the up and coming C2 to C4 pacers. Carrying prize money totaling $18,000, the race was held for the first time earlier this year during the club’s inaugural ‘Carnival of Cups’ race day. The Goulburn Soldiers Club has once again come forward to sponsor the race.
In its first offering the Neil Day trained Itaintover overwhelmed a quality line up. The Brioso Hanover gelding verified his promise by winning a further 3 races at the home of harness racing in NSW, Tabcorp Park, Menangle.
The Goulburn Soldiers Club has supported harness racing in Goulburn since racing resumed in 2008. “We are very grateful for their continued help, without the Soldiers Club it would have been difficult for the harness club to get as far as it has in such a short time” commented Dennis Day, President of the harness club.
The third of the afternoon’s feature races will be the Goulburn Mulwaree Council City Sprint over the 1710m distance. The event is programmed for Cup grade horses and should ensure the present sprint record which is held by David Hewitt’s Ark Alencon will be broken.
Carrying prize money of $12,000, the event will be sponsored by Goulburn Mulwaree Council who continue their very generous support of the light harness sport. Following the closure of the track in the mid 80’s, Council has continuously helped the club, firstly in contributing to the construction of the original new track and then the enhanced facilities at the Recreation Area.
With a quality programme of support races and entertainment for the whole family the harness club anticipates a bigger and more successful race day. Side attractions will include live music, mini trotting racing courtesy of the Shoalhaven Mini Trots Club, jumping castle for the kids and exhibitions by the Fly Dogs. Harness fans should set aside the day for what promises to be a great afternoon of racing and entertainment.
THURSDAY HARNESS RACING
Whilst the Goulburn Club prepares for its feature race meeting in January, it will also host a Tier 3 race meeting on Thursday afternoon this week. Although the re-opening of the track in November was marred by continuous inclement and cold weather, the Club’s committee is hoping for fine weather this week and an exhibition of the kind of times possible on the new surface.
Fields for the meeting were not available at the time of print, however full fields, tips and commentary will be published in Wednesday’s edition of the Goulburn Post.
OTHER HARNESS NEWS
The Canberra Club held a harness meeting on Sunday evening and the David Hewitt stable scored a winning double with Our Stormbird and Toolijoola Dawn, whilst David also had a winning catch drive on Bold Banyula for Shelly Davis of Canberra.
Our Stormbird came from well back in the field to score an easy win over Theriverking and Western Arden in the $5,000 ACT Tyre Power Pace over 2170m. The mile rate was a moderate 2:03.5
Toolijoola Dawn, like her stable mate, also came from well back in the field to score a good win as the $2.50 favourite. Driven by Brad Hewitt the 4yo Dawn ofa New Day mare relegated My Little Gal and Due Cause to the minor place positions and returned a mile rate of 2:03.7 for the 1770m distance.
For all the latest Goulburn harness news check out the club’s website at www.goulburnpaceway.com.au
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