PRIZEMONEY INCREASES
Wagga HRC has decided to put some of the savings from tax parity into prizemoney starting with the Wagga Pacers Cup.
Other races to benefit will be the Cup prelude and the Christmas Cup and one other feature race on Saturday night, December 17.
Cup prizemoney will rise from $15,000 to $30,000 and will carry Group Three status on March 4.
The Prelude on Tuesday night, February 21, will be worth $10,000 and be restricted to Southwest and Riverina trained pacers with the first two to finish gaining a start in the Wagga Cup.
The Wagga Committee has also decided to increase prizemoney for the Christmas Cup from $6000 to $10,000 while the C2-C4 has risen to $8000.
This race will be limited to pacers trained within 150 kilometres of Wagga.
In total, an additional $25,000 has been added to these races.
Wagga has also decided to stop charging admission fees for all but two of its meetings which will be for the Cup and Christmas meetings.
The free entry has already had an impact with a noticeably larger crowd in attendance on October 14.
ANNUAL MEETING
Wagga will conduct its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday night, November 23.
Members recently voted to adopt a new Constitution put forward by Harness Racing NSW which primarily will see four elected committee persons from the Wagga Committee and three selected by HRNSW.
The building of the new Riverina track will be a major objective over the next 18 months with work to commence once the successful tender is finalised.
CUP SPONSOR ANNOUNCED
For the second time in a decade, Southwest Stockfeeds has won naming rights to the Wagga Pacers Cup.
Owner Brian Smith couldn’t believe his luck when drawn for a second time after also taking out the major prize in 2007.
As part of the prize, Southwest Stockfeeds receive a day for two at the Miracle Mile courtesy of the NSW Harness Racing Club.
Smith may even have a starter in the Cup as he trains Mammals Flash who is racing into contention for the race.
Mammals Flash has been a model of consistency with four wins and as many seconds from nine starts.
HRNSW AWARDS
Harness Racing NSW will conduct its Awards Night on Saturday evening.
The Two-Year-Old of the Year will be sponsored by Wagga with the nominees coming from the colts and geldings, fillies and trotters divisions.
Don’t Think Twice, who won the Bathurst Gold Tiara for trainer-driver Jason Grimson from Young in March, is under consideration for the two-year-old award.
Wagga owned mare Frith is in contention to be named Aged Pacing Mare of the Year after recently being named Australian pacing mare of the year..
TRIALS START
Wagga has commenced trials of a Monday night and will also continue to conduct trials at meetings.
Trials will commence at 6pm on a Monday with nominations closing with HR NSW on a Friday at 1pm.
Race night trials have proven beneficial for trainers who have been able to cut down on travel, time and expenses.
HORSES FOR COURSES
Wagga Pacer of the Year Shadesoff’s affinity with the Wagga circuit goes without saying.
The mare won her fifth race at Wagga recently in a career where she has won six times.
Last season, Shadesoff had 14 starts at Wagga for four wins, five seconds and two thirds.
Trainer-driver Brooke McPherson was contemplating a spell for Shadesoff at the time but had her second thoughts as she was racing in career best form.
Her decision to push on was vindicated as Shadesoff won again and shows no signs of easing up.
“She just feels different at Wagga and wants to race there. At other tracks, she can get off the bit but she never runs a bad race at Wagga,” McPherson said.
Shadesoff has proven to be a bargain buy for $1500 returning $28,000 in one season.
“She has been in training for 12 months. As soon as she shows me she has had enough she will have a break,” she added.
KEY DATE – Saturday night (December 17): Christmas meeting
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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