Jukebox Music was the winner of the 2012 Warragul Cup Photo by Warragul Gazette
Warragul Harness Racing Club committeeman Kyle Galley will take over the role of club Manager from July 1.
Galley, 31, replaces John Wilkins who is retiring after more than two decades of service to the racing industry as a club administrator.
A committee member for almost 12 years, Galley has been Treasurer of the WHRC since 2005, and served as club Manager from 2005-2008. He is a life member of the Warragul Harness and Light Harness Clubs.
In addition to his involvement in trotting, Galley works as a casual race caller for racing meetings in Gippsland and beyond, having broadcast over 100 meetings “on-air” in the last two-and-a-half years.
He has been calling races on-course since age 14 and also boasts experience in journalism, having worked at Harness Racing Weekly newspaper for three years, and event promotion through his involvement at Warragul.
The club has secured a 12-month lease on the Danny’s the Venue function centre, located at the Logan Park complex, in an effort to grow this operation and expand the club’s non-racing revenue.
“I am looking forward to the opportunity to return to the club as Manager,” Galley said.
“The club is well placed financially, and although the landscape of the industry has changed significantly since I stood aside from the role in 2008, I still believe there is more we can do as a club to showcase trotting in our local community.”
“Warragul’s race meetings still generate higher on-course TAB turnover than many daytime meetings elsewhere in Victoria, and this and other aspects of our operations can only be improved upon.”
Wilkins has been an active participant in racing administration since becoming Secretary of the Traralgon Greyhound Racing Club in the early 1990’s.
He managed that club for more than 15 years, and also managed the Warragul Greyhound Racing Club before accepting the harness racing position in late 2009.
The main race at Warragul this Monday is the $7000 Traralgon Pacing Cup - fittingly as the Traralgon greyhound Cup is also on this weekend.
As per usual the Traralgon Pacing Cup recognises the 20-year history of trotting in the Latrobe Valley from 1975 to 1995.
Champion reinsman Chris Alford, who won the last race run at Traralgon in '95, is chasing his fourth winning drive in the event. He will steer Inky Cullen for trainer Dean Braun, who won the Cup last year with Nuclear Bunny.
Oakleigh horseman Terry Scanlon teamed up with Alford to win that last race at Traralgon close to 20 years ago, and on Monday will have Courageous Spirit in the Cup, driven by local reinsman Glenn Hunter, who tasted Cup success four years ago with Veranjee.
Elsewhere fields are strong on the eight event card, which will kick off at 12:26pm. The Cup race will be run at 3:21pm with the last race at 4:35pm.
For further information please call the Warragul Harness Racing Club on (03) 5622 2008.
