Forbes Harness Racing Club will conduct its first meeting following a two-year absence this Anzac Day, hosting a strong nine-race program headlined by the running of the $14,994 Forbes Shire Council Diggers Cup.
All hope seemed to be lost for the Forbes Club after devastating floods in late 2022 tore through the local showground, resulting in severe damage to much of the infrastructure and completely washing away the track surface.
But a spirited rally from the hardworking Forbes committee spearheaded by their President Lex Crosby and supported by the Forbes Shire Council and local trainers has resulted in the track and the facilities being restored piece by piece.
This Friday the fruits of their toil will be rewarded with the return to racing which holds huge significance to the Club’s very existence.
President Crosby has been vocal for some time, adamant that his Club would race again, and there will be no prouder man on track when runners face the mobile for the opening race.
“We have certainly had our struggles to get back up and racing, but an enormous amount of credit must be afforded to all those involved for ensuring our return to racing has come to fruition,” said Lex.
“There are too many people to thank individually, but the effort right across our community and beyond has been enormous, and I cannot speak more highly of those people and organisations that have helped make it all happen.
“Forbes is a strong harness racing town with so much history, the region has, and continues to produce many winners, at the highest level in the sport.
“So, it is only fitting that we have race meetings here in Forbes.”
Crosby will be hoping that Sweet On Lexy, a horse that he bred, and races can take out the Diggers Cup feature.
Drawn in gate two, the three-year-old which is trained and driven by Bernie Hewitt in Bathurst will need to bring his ‘A’ game to Forbes as he takes on older horses over the 2470 metre distance.
Already the winner of seven races, the exceptionally talented youngster has had an interrupted campaign this year with niggling ailments, but his efforts to finish second in a heat of the Gold Chalice at Bathurst, followed by a luckless sixth placing in the final were impressive.
