Champion pacer Smoken Up will have his final start ever at Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday night.
Racing fans will be able to attend a special night this Saturday at Tabcorp Park, Melton, to farewell one of Australian harness racing’s all-time greats, Smoken Up.
Premier and Minister for Racing, Denis Napthine said the Victorian Coalition Government is providing funding from the Raceday Attraction Program to help put on a memorable night for Smoken Up.
“The Smoken Up Farewell Race Night this Saturday will be a great tribute to an enduring champion of the harness racing world,” Dr Napthine said.
“Smoken Up is particularly known for his tenacity and never-say-die attitude on the track and I hope he can finish his career off with one last victory on Saturday night in front of a large, admiring crowd,” Dr Napthine said.
To celebrate the occasion, the Coalition Government is partnering with Harness Racing Victoria to put on a number of on-course initiatives including:
· Smoken Up caps for the first 500 racegoers;
· Smoken Up mini-flags handed out by promotional staff to all racegoers;
· Souvenir racebook covers;
· ‘Farewell Smoken Up’ posters; and
· Photos with Smoken Up and his trainer/driver Lance Justice.
Tabcorp Park will also be decked out in a Smoken Up theme giving the night a very special atmosphere befitting such a racing legend.
Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Chief Executive Officer John Anderson said Saturday night will be one of those special occasions when we get to farewell a champion on his terms.
“The inseparable combination of Smoken Up and Lance Justice will be accessible to the public for one final time at a race meeting,” Mr Anderson said.
“With the support of the Coalition Government and the backing of the Premier Denis Napthine, HRV has been able to prepare a fitting closure to a great career.
“Every harness or sports enthusiast in the region should make their way to Tabcorp Park to see the champ race one final time.
“If social media is any guide, I've not seen a more popular race horse in Victoria,” Mr Anderson said.
Smoken Up has had a career spanning 152 starts, which has included 74 wins, 54 places and over $3.6 million in prize money. He has run the fastest ever mile rate by a horse in Australia or New Zealand.
Harness Racing Victoria announced last month that the Group 2 race previously known as The Legends Mile will now be known as Smoken Up Sprint. The inaugural Smoken Up Sprint will be run at Melton on Friday 7 November 2014.
Through the Raceday Attraction Program, the Coalition Government is contributing $13,130 for the special race night at Melton with HRV contributing a further $14,252.
