HARNESS RACING RESUMES THURSDAY 12TH NOVEMBER WITH AN 8 RACE CARD

Harness racing returns to the Goulburn Paceway tomorrow afternoon (Thursday 12 November) when the first of six meetings for the current season will be conducted.  Once again the day’s racing is brought to you by the Goulburn Soldiers Club who is continuing this season as the major sponsor of the Goulburn Harness Racing Club.

The Thursday afternoon race programme is set to commence at 1.30pm with the last race scheduled to go at 5.52pm. 

The afternoon also marks the opening of the refurbished betting and dining hall facilities at the Recreation Area.  Following application for grant money from the Department of Sports and Recreation, the Goulburn Club was allocated a $100,000 grant to improve the facilities.  Racing patrons will be pleased to see a fully enclosed building with carpeting and new ceiling.  The venue has been improved significantly on what was available last season.

The feature race of the afternoon is the $5,000 Goulburn Soldiers Club Pace for fast class horses.  As the fourth race of the afternoon it has drawn a small but quality field of pacers including prolific winner Saint William (Amy Day) and last start winners No Malice Alice (Kerryann Turner) and Kimberly Street (Bradley Hewitt).  A highlight of this race will be the battle for driving honours as all three horses are being driven by some of the State’s most promising and successful young drivers.

Saint William is a high class horse who resumed last Friday night at Harold Park with a close 6^th to Gotashotaway.  On the basis of class, and as the winner of more than $100,000 in prize money, he would have to be considered the strongest chance.  David Hewitt’s Kimberly Street is last season’s Canberra horse of the year and will be driven by Bradley Hewitt who recently was selected as the country junior driver of the year and Harness Racing NSW’s awards night.  She returned to the winner’s circle at Canberra on Saturday night after having finished a solid 3^rd at her first start back this season.  She will be further improved and should prove the hardest to beat whilst the Riverina trained No Malice Alice brings winning form having taken out last Sunday’s $15,000 Wagga Pacer’s Cup and is likely to fill a placing.

In the first race of the day, the $2,000 goulburnpaceway.com.au Pace for R0 class horses over 1710m, a small field of 8 even pacers should make for a good betting race.  Regal Pumkin has been racing consistently in the Sydney metropolitan area and from barrier 1 will be one of the favourite runners.  Local trainer Jack Webb has Peta Hare and Mapleart engaged and both should prove hardest to beat.

Race 2 is the $2,000 Goulburn Carpet Court Pace for R0-R1 pacers over 1710m.  Frank Sonata trained at Wilton by Rebecca Dodd is a Menangle winner and from barrier 3 may have the speed to find the lead.  Hardest to beat are the consistent Just Mandrake for Neville Hargraves and Mister Fawlty.

In the third race of the afternoon, the $5,000 Chris Weekes Motorcycle Pace for 3yo pacers, Elles Venture is in good form having finished a close second at her last start at Menangle.  The filly has drawn the inside barrier and looks a very strong chance to take out the event.  The Neil Day trained Nolens Volens and the Canberra based Last Straw look the hardest to beat.

Race 5 is the $5,000 Goulburn Free Choice Pace over 2240m and the Michael Day Snr trained Bazzas Ace backs up from his comfortable win at Menangle on Monday.  Drawn in barrier 1 he looks the likely to take up a position in the leading group and may prove too strong for Guy Lynn and Pulveriser.

In the sixth race of the afternoon, the $5,000 El Meato Pace for C0 pacers over 2240m, Queen of Courage has recent wins to her credit at Canberra and Wagga.  She was impressive when accounting for subsequent winner the Golden Lord at Canberra and from the number 1 barrier she looks to hold too many guns for her rivals.  The hardest to beat may prove to be the David Hewitt trained Heresparis and Whistlin Jim.

Race 7 is the $5,000 Topwater Carters Pace for C3-C5 pacers.  This has drawn a good quality field with Stacks Up looking the hardest to beat following consistent form at Menangle and Harold Park.  Served well in barrier 3 the 6yo mare has the speed to find the lead and may prove too strong for David Hewitt’s Nifty Hare and club president Dennis Day’s Noelhamric.

The final race of the afternoon is the $5,000 Signage One Pace for C1 to C2 pacers over 2240m.  The race features a few promising horses in particular 3yo track record holder One Art Rite trained by club president Dennis Day.  The 4yo horse is resuming after an 8 month break but should prove too classy for the opposition.  Polo Vancelot for Michael Day Snr is drawn well in barrier 2 and will be the hardest to beat.  Filling the final placing could be the promising Golden Market who backs up from an engaged at Menangle on Tuesday.

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Gates will open at 12 Noon with free entry.  For the convenience of patrons hot food, cold drinks and a licenced bar will be available.  The club extends an invitation to all harness racing fans to come out and support the club as we continue our return to harness racing in Goulburn. 

Following Thursday's race meeting, the Goulburn Club has further races set for Thursday afternoon the 10th of December and Thursday afternoon the 14th January, 2010 when the inaugural $10,000 Goulburn Soldiers Club Frank Day Memorial will be conducted

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