The Committee of the Collie Harness Racing Club have quickly adapted to the new calendar racing season and, in an innovative move, have changed their racing season to October-November instead of the traditional February-March combination.
The club has made this decision to ease congestion of racing at what is now the start of the racing season - a time when traditionally the racehorse numbers are down. By positioning the club at the tail end of the racing season the club can capitalise on horse numbers, spring weather and Christmas functions.
The Clubs feature race schedule this year is:
- Sunday 17 October Standard stakes race meeting
- Sunday 31 October King Coal Cup (SS), John Martin Memorial (SS)
- Sunday 14 November Joe & Margaret Suvaljko Memoral (MS), RWWA Feature (SS)
- Sunday 28 November Collie Cup (SS), George Ashcroft Memorial (MS)
Another change that will be introduced at the first meeting in October is all Mobile Start races at Collie will be conducted with a maximum field size of 8 horses and the barrier configuration will be 5 across the front and 3 across the back. Standing Start races will continue with a field size of 10 horses with a maximum of 5 runners on any line on each handicap mark. This change has been instigated for safety reasons by the Stewards.
