Anthony Collins leads in a Dayl March winner at Warwick last year Photo by David Aldred
Racing fans on the Darling Downs in Queensland are abuzz with the local harness racing club conducting a huge TAB trot meeting at the Warwick Turf Club’s Allman Park on Sunday.
Darling Downs Harness Racing Club president, Sky Racing race caller Anthony Collins, said the DDHRC is thrilled with the response from trainers for the Father’s Day race meeting and Collins and his hard working team of volunteers are looking forward to presenting a top eight race card, featuring the Garrard’s 2015 Warwick Cup plus six other pacing Cup races and a trot Cup handicap.
''There is a massive buzz around town about this, the whole town is talking about the races and people are really looking forward to the trots on the turf track," Collins said.
"It's great to have the support right through from our sponsors to Racing Queensland, everyone has been fantastic. “Now all is required is support from the weather gods on the day.”
The forecast for Warwick on Sunday is for a mostly sunny day with a top temperature of 21 degrees, perfect for racing. "The (grass) track is in magnificent order and will be equally as good as last year's meeting," Collins said.
The TAB program kicks off on SKY 1 at 12.07pm with the Warwick Industrial Estate Cup (1950m) with the day’s big feature the Garrard’s 2015 Warwick Cup, race seven at 3.34pm. Races two to eight will be displayed on SKY 2 with TAB betting on all races.
"It is a huge bonus to have full TAB and SKY coverage, it really puts the Darling Downs Harness Racing Club back on the map and shows people that harness racing in country Queensland is still a major draw card,” Collins said. “We have got the chance to bring harness racing back to the country people and the city and country trainers have be generous with their support, so it should all auger well for a super race day. "
Trainers Dayl March (Warwick) and Julie Weidemann (Clifton) will be out to try to keep the major prizemoney local with both stables looking to have winning chances in the 2015 Warwick Cup. March, one of the driving forces behind the Warwick harness race meeting, will harness up and drive 5yo Blissful Hall gelding Magnussen, a Redcliffe winner last month while Weidemann has the 2015 RNA Show Final Champion Mister Elegant engaged in the race. Mister Elegant, a 5yo Miles McCool gelding also won a race at Redcliffe last month. Another Warwick trainer David Millard will start One Four Seven in the Cup. The 8yo As Promised gelding which had its last win at Redcliffe back in April will be driven by David’s son Andrew. Another family duo, Fernvale trainer Darrel Graham and his daughter, driver Brittany, also have a strong hand in the Cup with recent Albion Park winner, Major In Art 5yo gelding, Major Sam to be driven by Darrel and Mach Three 6yo gelding Supaliner to be driven by Brittany. Both the Graham stable horses will start from the back row.
DDHRC festivities start on Saturday night at the Palace Hotel, Warwick, with the Club's Warwick Cup sports night and calcutta.
