What started out as a possibility has turned into reality with an inaugural standing start series to commence at Dubbo on Friday night.
Qualifying heats will be conducted at Dubbo and Wagga on Tuesday with the $12,000 final to be held at West Wyalong’s Carnival Of Cups meeting on Sunday, April 3.
Importantly both heats have attracted full fields much to the delight of West Wyalong president Ray Moore.
“I was a bit worried about how it would go as standing start races aren’t held often in this area, but we wanted a race that would identify West Wyalong’s Carnival Of Cups,” he said.
“It’s very pleasing both clubs could help us out by holding heats in different regions which will attract a good quality field for the final.”
Moore said the standing start series was the brainchild of local publican James Clyburn who has put several thousand dollars towards the event.
The Tattersalls Hotel Starlite Standing Start series will also offer a Starlite gig to the winning trainer and $1000 to the winning driver.
Horses will race off extended handicaps with the backmarkers being asked to give up to 70 metres start.
The race has attracted plenty of interest with some of the quality runners including Oh Jonny B Good who has won his past two starts, while in the Wagga heat Sporty Spook is the nominal favourite.
“The only way to attract the better class horses is by offering good prize money,” Moore said.
“It’s big prize money for a country series and at our Carnival Of Cups day there will be $80,000 prize money on offer.”
Moore said the standing start series was here to stay and wouldn’t be a one off.
“You have the Eugowra Canola Cup which is the richest maiden race in NSW, the Leeton Breeders Plate which is worth big money for the two-year-olds and we are hopeful this standing start series will also continue to flourish,” he said.
Dubbo secretary Marjory Bradley said standing start races were regularly held at the track up until five years ago.
“We always had a standing start race at our Boxing night meeting so it will be good to have one back again,” she said.
Wagga hasn’t held a standing start race at the current track but more than 25 years ago they were a regular occurrence.
“A lot of the younger generation wouldn’t have seen a live standing start race and I’m sure some of the older harness racing followers will be pleased to see one held again,” Wagga chief executive Graeme White added.
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