Warragul Harness Racing Club is embracing innovation as it looks to deliver one of the most intriguing meetings on Victoria’s harness racing Cups calendar on the King’s Birthday long weekend.
The club has unveiled a unique same-day heats-and-final format for its flagship Pacing Cup next Monday (June 8).
Warragul has faced its share of challenges in recent years as it works to maintain a racing presence, but rather than standing still, officials have opted to think outside the square for what will be its sole meeting of the season.
The result is a Cup Day packed with incentives, increased prizemoney and a fresh race format that is sure to attract plenty of interest from participants and punters alike.
Warragul Harness Racing Club president Steve Austen said the committee was determined to make the most of its one opportunity to showcase the venue and the sport.
works to maintain a racing presence, but rather than standing still, officials have opted to think outside the square for what will be its sole meeting of the season.
“There’s a strong committee and we didn’t hesitate to top up the stakemoney in both the Pacing and Trotters Cups – we threw in an extra $5000 for each feature race which takes them both up to $15,000,” Austen said.
“Hopefully the stakemoney of the two features and all of the other incentives we are offering will attract a lot of trainers over here,” he said.
“We weren’t in favour of having any $4000 races on the program, so we are pleased that the minimum stakes is $6000.
“Trainers of all unplaced runners will receive $50 from the club. There’s also owner and trainer bonuses through VHRC.”
The Warragul Pacing Cup has been run since 1955 on a traditional Pacing Cup format, catering for the sport’s elite-class performers.
“Over the past three years we’ve kept the Cup to lower assessed horses (up to NR55) trying to open it up to a bigger pool of starters,” Austen said.
“This concept we’re introducing this year will challenge connections to weigh up the task of contesting two races on the same day, and will again be something completely different,” he said.
It is exactly the sort of creative thinking the club hopes will help generate renewed excitement around one of Gippsland’s most historic racing venues. Based at Logan Park, Warragul is Gippsland’s oldest harness racing club, having been established in 1939, although records show trotting events were conducted on the current site as far back as the 1890s.
Austen has returned to the President’s role determined to help drive the club forward, after previously serving in the role during a period when Warragul earned Victorian Club of the Year honours.
“I took a break and decided to come back this year – we’re doing our best and determined to make next Monday’s meeting a big success,” he said
To appeal to racegoers, the club is also again offering one of the most generous on-course promotions in Victorian harness racing with a $5000 bonus to on-course patrons.
“One name will be drawn out of a hat in both the Pacing and Trotting Cup and anyone lucky enough to have the winner will take home the cash,” Austen said.
“There’s even $1000, $500 and $250 for being placed. We did it last year for the first time and there was a great deal of interest with one racegoer running third.”
Living legends Just Believe and Sundons Gift will make guest appearances, and a familiar voice to generations of harness racing fans, chief harness racing caller in Victoria of 30 years, Dan Mielicki, will return to Warragul as master of ceremonies.
“He’ll assist with post-race interviews with winning drivers, trophy presentations and will conduct the popular Punters Club,” Austen said.
“Dan has called harness and greyhound racing events at Logan Park for decades and is looking forward to getting back here on Monday.”
Nominations for the Warragul cup meeting close at midday on Wednesday https://www.harness.org.au/racing/meeting-program/?mc=WR080626&state=VIC
