19 December 2023 | Scott Hamilton
Huge crowds are expected, yet again, to flock to Churchill Park for the annual Busselton Trotting Club season which kicks off on Boxing Day with their 75th Anniversary Cup Meeting.
Preparations are underway with local and city based trainers putting the final touches on their horses aimed at taking out a race or two throughout the five meetings, with some fancy fillies getting set to contest the Esplanade Sweetheart Series; where fillies and mares battle out for points across the season to be crowned the best in the South West.
“The Club offers a great opportunity for owners of fillies and mares with the Esplanade Sweetheart Series, this has been going for many years now and is used to promote the local breeding of mares through the support of WASBA and the EPONA Bonus.” Club President Dennis Russell said.
The 75th Anniversary Cup Meeting is the culmination of years of dedication to the sport of Harness Racing in the South West.
“A lot of hard work by past committees and participants have contributed to the great success of the Busselton Trotting Club”
“The celebration is very special to the current committee and members who have supported the club for many years. The marquee race of the night, the 75th Anniversary Cup, will hold prize money of $10,500 plus a trophy to mark the occasion.”
“The Club has generations of families who have been attending for years, they in turn have brought their children and now their grandchildren. This has created a wonderful family atmosphere and reputation among the public who love coming to the Busselton Trots.”
Families visiting the Busselton Trotting Club this year will be able to enjoy the thrill of Pony Trot races in-between the main races, food vans, lolly stalls, facepainting and a mobile magician.
The night will also feature a local racing museum including a race book from the very first meeting ever held at Churchill Park, photos, racing memorabilia and more.
The Busselton Trotting Club puts punters closer to the action in comparison to many Harness Racing venues in the world; with the pre-race parade ring in close proximity to the public, and the shorter circuit meaning the horses pass the crowd more times during races.
“All races are standing starts and this is unique in WA. The Churchill Park crowd is very close to the track so patrons can enjoy seeing horses up close while watching the races, and the parade ring is close to the stabling area which provides punters an opportunity to view the horses before they go on the track; great if you’re having a bet!”
The Busselton Trotting Club have engaged the services of Hamilton Content Creators, a Perth based marketing and visuals creation agency who specialise in horse racing, to conduct LIVE interviews across The Trots WA ‘X’ platform to engage punters betting off-course.
“Getting vital information out to punters at a time when they’re placing their investments is a highly valuable tool when looking to increase turnover.” Said Rebecca Hamilton of Hamilton Content Creators
“With the unique style of racing on offer at Churchill Park, bettors want to be reassured of the driver’s thoughts on tactics, standing stand capabilities and the horse’s ability to tackle the 656m circuit”
“Through the use of ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), we plan to engage punters who are watching the races on Sky with a captivating second-screen experience through the use of imagery and live video.”
“We’re also excited to be taking on the on-course photography for the club through our PACEPIX brand, with digital and printed images all available on our industry leading online portal.”
With thousands of families expected to venture down to Busselton during the holiday period, the club is prepared to entertain the masses.
“The City of Busselton is known as the events capital of the South West and a major tourist attraction for the state of WA.” Said Mr. Russell.
“We play a large part in the promotion of this reputation and we plan on delivering family friendly nights out every time the gates open.”
Further to the Boxing Day meeting, The Busselton Cup will be held on January 19, with race meetings also held on New Years Day on January 1, January 5, and 12; with locals and holiday makers all encouraged to attend.
For more information, ‘like’ the Busselton Trotting Club on Facebook to be kept up-to-date.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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