Local trainers and drivers tested out the surface at Towac Park last Friday.
THE Orange Harness Racing Club has some big plans for its TAB.COM.AU Carnival of Cups meeting next month.
Now that the ‘all clear’ has been given to switch racing from Highlands Paceway to Towac Park, the Club is making the most of showcasing harness racing on the turf.
For the Club’s Carnival of Cups meeting on February 12 there will be four $14,000 features with all races to be run in the clockwise direction over the 1609m distance.
And to help capture all the action of the day will be renowned racecaller Mark McNamara, the original voice of the Carnival of Cups.
Harness Racing New South Wales has worked alongside Racing NSW and the Orange City Council for some time to have this flagship harness racing event moved to Towac Park according to HRNSW chief executive John Dumesny.
“The move is about having a presence here (Orange) and the Board (HRNSW) didn’t want to see the sport move away from Orange,” Dumesny said.
“The Orange community suffered from the fact we had to move two meetings to Bathurst last year but we’re back and we’re very thankful to the Council who showed strong support and also to Racing NSW for allowing us to use Towac Park.
“Everyone involved headed by Frank McRae and Kel Winnell should be congratulated for securing racing at Towac Park.
“It’s about using community assets and multi-using community assets and that’s what can happen at Towac Park.”
Just last Friday local trainers and drivers trialled horses at this thoroughbred racing venue and it was a success according to the state’s leading trainer Steve Turnbull.
“It (the surface) was just beautiful and smooth,” Turnbull said having previously tested out the surface.
“I don’t think I’ve even been around a harness racing dirt track as smooth as it was . . . I had a shock, I really did.”
Orange HRC’s will host the first of its two meetings this year on February 5 and Turnbull plans to take a team of horses to both meetings.
To view the race program for Orange on February 5 CLICK HERE
To view the race program for Orange on February 12 CLICK HERE
Harness Racing NSW (HRNSW) is the controlling body for harness racing in New South Wales with responsibility for commercial and regulatory management of the industry including 33 racing clubs across the State. HRNSW is headed by an industry-appointed Board of Directors and is independent of Government.
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