Wagga’s biggest night of harness racing will hit the city next week with the Carnival Of Cups to be held on Friday night, March 4.
It will be the first time in recent memory the Cup meeting has been held on a Friday night with the switch made from a Saturday to avoid a clash with the AFL pre-season game between Collingwood and North Melbourne.
What a weekend it promises to be for some sports fans with harness racing on Friday night and the big clash in the AFL 24 hours later.
Wagga’s Cup meeting will offer prize money of $75,000 with the Nixon’s Engineering Wagga Pacers Cup the feature race carrying prize money of $14,000.
Last year’s Cup winner Hollywood Sign broke a run of outsiders winning the Cup when he led throughout.
Prior to that the likes of Teo Enteo, Marooned, Our El Nino and Cashel Lugh had saluted for trainers form outside the Riverina.
The other feature races include the Pat’s Tyres & More Derby, Steel Supplies Oaks and XXXX 2yo Rising Stars.
Outside of the racing, Wagga has also introduced the Myer Fashions On The Field with prizes for the best dressed lady, gentleman and an under 18s category.
Prizes valued at over $1200 will be on offer with Miss Wagga Melissa McKinnon one of the judges.
“Myer has supplied the main two prizes and there are vouchers to Forum 6 and Wagga Tenpin bowl for the under 18s section,” Wagga Harness Racing Club chief executive Graeme White said.
There will also be children’s entertainment with a costume character face painting and a jumping castle running throughout the night.
It’s expected there will be eight or nine races with racing to commence at 6.10pm.
Cup night racing has also been backed by Reece Plumbing, Duke Of Kent, Turners Excavations and Becnlewdistributions.
Nesbitts Furniture has also donated a leather recliner chair valued at $1150 as the raffle prize for the night.
“There will be plenty on with only 30 minutes between races. The Cup will attract a strong field as will the other races,” White said.
“Importantly Wagga has a race solely for Riverina trained horses which is worth $10,000 and will be strongly contested.”
Nominations close on Tuesday.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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