Welcome everyone to the first newsletter of the Wagga Harness Racing Club. Every three months, Wagga will update you with important information concerning the industry and other upcoming events. If you have any relevant information you want included please contact club Chief Executive Graeme White through e mail waggahrc@bigpond.com or phone on 69 251600.
NEW TRACK UPDATE
The major talking point for harness racing locally continues to be progress on the new track at Cartwrights Hill, Wagga. The latest information is the Southern Joint Regional Planning Panel will meet again, most likely on November 11, to make its decision. At the first meeting, the SJRPP asked for some changes to the plans put forward by the designers which have taken place over the past few months. Primarily this meant moving the race day stables and parade area from the eastern to the western side of the main viewing and amenities area. This will mean the race stables and parade ring will be located in a position about half way along the home straight.
This has meant further delays, but the designers and Harness Racing New South Wales are confident the latest plans meet all requirements. New flood, noise and traffic studies were needed with the change of plans which has taken up more time. With field sizes increasing from ten to 12 runners, there will be 120 race day stalls at Wagga instead of the original number of around 100.
DOUBLE DELIGHT
It has been a time to remember for Wagga Harness Racing Club vice president Ralph Brewer during September. Ralph received an Appreciation Award at the NSW Harness Racing Awards night in Sydney which followed on from his life membership at the Wagga awards on September 5. Ralph was joined on stage in Wagga by fellow vice president Kevin Wheatley and former committeeman Don Inwood in receiving life membership. Between the trio, they have given more than 60 years of service to harness racing in Wagga. They join a select group of past life membership recipients. For once, Don was speechless, keeping a secret from him is difficult but it was managed right until he was called on stage.
AWARDS WINNERS
The Wagga awards night was again successful with 130 people in attendance to celebrate and socialise away from the track.
The Southwest & Riverina Harness Racing Association also presented its awards with Shaun Snudden and Corey Bell taking home the major prizes. The Riverina pacer of the year award was claimed by Hollywood Sign for Trevor White and fellow owners David White and Matt Peden.
Bettermatch was a standout for the juvenile of the year award for trainer Col Thomas and owners Robbie and Pat Wakeman. The three-year-old has recently returned to training and has come back a bigger and stronger version after his first season of racing when he won five of his six starts. The Wagga awards were also won by Shaun Snudden and Corey Bell with Classiemahon the pacer of the year. Classiemahon has been a real success story winning six of his 11 starts at Wagga last season.
TRIAL TIMES
Monday night trials will continue at Wagga on October 12 with a change in starting time to 6pm.
Trials have been held in recent months at 5pm but with the change in daylight saving hours they have been moved back one hour. Trainers are reminded to nominate with HRNSW for the trials preferably by the Friday prior to the trial date.
NIXONS ENGINEERING WAGGA CUP
Nixons Engineering will sponsor the Wagga Pacers Cup on March 5 following the sponsors’ draw at the awards night. Nixons have been a long time sponsor and owners Malcolm and Maxine Nixon were delighted to claim the major prize. The Wagga Derby will be backed by Pats Tyres & More, the Wagga Oaks by Southwest Stockfeeds and the Rising Stars by Tooheys.
INDIGENOUS DRIVERS RACE
The next important date to keep in mind is Saturday night, October 17, when Wagga will host a heat of the Indigenous Drivers series. A heat has already been conducted at Dubbo with the drivers moving through to the final at Menangle in November. The race is backed by Michael Brown Planning and Associates. There are a number of events being held in association with the meeting including a Welcome to the Country and Smoking Ceremony which will be performed by Jim Ingram of Leeton.
The other feature race on the night is the Football Premier’s Cup which acknowledges the achievements of the premiers from the various football codes.
New sponsor Kydra Park of Cooma will sponsor the Football Premiers Cup. Kydra Park along with Coorparoo Park, Dave Lugton Catering, Becandlew Distribution, J & C Powderly Electrical & Renewable Energy plus Terry Hinchcliffe Surveyors are new sponsors for the 2015-16 season.
This takes the number of sponsors to close to 50 for the 30 meetings Wagga will conduct this season.
IMPORTANT GROWTH
Some interesting figures to come out for the Wagga club last financial year show an increase in some key areas. The numbers of starters per race increased from 8.79 to 9.31 while prize money distributed rose by $238,000 to $1.17 million. Average prize money per race increased from $5114 to $5857 while average TAB turnover per meeting increased from $161,231 to $169,055. Overall turnover has increased by almost five per cent.
KEY DATES
Saturday night October 17: Indigenous Drivers and Football Premiers’ Cup
Saturday night (December 12): Christmas meeting
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
