by Graham Fischer
A decade after being steamrolled by the Northern Expressway, the Gawler Harness Racing Club is ready to notch another significant mark on its comeback.
The club will stage official trials at its new 14-hectare property on Two Wells Road on Sunday, September 3. It will continue to hold trials on every second Sunday.
Peter Bain, chairman of the Gawler Harness Racing Club said past and current committeepersons could be proud of the trial day.
“It has been a long road, with a few speed humps, but the staging of official trials is a major achievement in the club’s history,” Mr Bain said.
“When the club was flattened by the compulsory acquisition of our previous 27-hectare track on Weaver Road, the committee set on a path to building a new track with the goal to eventually conduct trials and next Sunday it will become a reality.”
Mr Bain said, when it was announced that trials would now be held, the most asked question was whether race meetings would ever be conducted at the track.
“That decision is in the hands of the sport’s controlling body, Harness Racing South Australia.
“When our previous property was compulsory acquired and we ended up in 2008, the club was told we would be compensated to enable the club to replicate what we had.
“We said it would cost up to $10 million, but the compensation was only $3.8 million.
“So far we have spent $3.25 million to get to the stage where we can hold trials. To have the track ready for racing will cost around another $5 million so our estimate at the time of closure was pretty close to the mark.”
Mr Bain said for racing to be conducted another barn would need to be built to house the horses, male and female drivers’ rooms constructed, a stewards room, administration office, first aid facilities, amenities for the general public, judge and race callers box, timing lights and photo finish.
“The club doesn’t have the money to upgrade the track for racing so it will be up to HRSA Board to decide if it wants to race at Gawler, and how to fund the necessary facilities.”
Chris Hartwig, chairman of Harness Racing South Australia said it was an aim to eventually race at Gawler.
“Ideally, we would also have lights installed to have both day and night racing,” Mr Hartwig said.
“At present, we do not have the necessary funds to proceed with the improvements required to conduct a race meeting but the Board will explore all avenues to raise the required finances to stage race meetings at Gawler.
“The Board congratulates the Gawler club on its’ work to have reached the stage where it can conduct trials.”
Mr Bain said to reach the trialling stage the club purchased the land, built a track, 958 metres in circumference and described as the best in the state, a horse barn, hosing down bay, covered viewing area, clubrooms and a stewards’ tower.
“We are currently installing a parade ring which will be finished this week in time for the trials.
“Trial distances will be over 2070 metres and 2550 metres. The first trial will be at 9am and there will be catering available for patrons.”
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