St. Mary’s will kick off the 2026 Tasmanian harness racing season with the once-a-year cup meeting on the state’s east coast.
The unique 1306m grass track is located around the football and cricket oval and a recently installed dog park, and is also part of the local golf course.
Six races are scheduled for Thursday’s card, with the St Mary’s Pacing Cup (2400m) the feature.
One common name across the St Mary’s Cup honour roll is the Rattrays.
J. Rattray partnered with the inaugural cup winner, Ford, in 1926.
With Lindsey, Wayne, Ken, Barrie, Gareth and Todd all appearing multiple times on the honour roll.
Adam Rattray will be looking to add his name to the list, preparing Neon in Thursday’s race.
Neon’s last win was in the 2698m standing start Kevin Gillies Memorial in Launceston last Easter, and was placed at Carrick Park on Sunday when fourth up from a break.
“He has drawn the front, which helps, but it’s a very even race,” said Adam, who has given driving responsibilities to his younger brother, Todd.
“He is going a bit better, and we will see how he goes.
“The distance doesn’t worry me, if he can get away well, he will be a chance, but My Way went well last start in the same race as Neon, Rockandahardplace (trained by Adam’s uncle Kent) is a standing start specialist, and a few others are right in it if they have luck.”
The Cup is named in honour of the St. Mary’s Pacing Club’s late secretary Eric Bean.
He joined the committee in 1958 before taking on the clubs secretary role, a position he held for 52 years, the longest for any secretary in Australian harness racing, with the late Bill Oliver the only other coming close to that mark in Tasmania, spending 50 years as secretary in Launceston across what was then two clubs.
Bean, who also held a trainer’s and driver’s license, was awarded the state’s highest honour for harness racing, the Edgar Tatlow Medal in 2008, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014. He passed away in 2013 at the age of 79.
Thursday’s New Year’s Day meeting will again be a Non-Tab program, with no off-track wagering or broadcast of the meeting, with the St. Marys Pacing Club keen to retain their traditional New Year’s Day date.
On-track bookmakers will be fielding on the local races, with the first race scheduled for 13:00.
form.tasracing.com.au will have full replays available from the meeting.
