Winning’s never looked or felt so good at Geelong Harness Racing Club as it will on Saturday night, when metropolitan racing comes to the track for the first time since its dramatic upgrade.

A nine-race card concludes with the Winning Post Bar & Restaurant Pace, the race name a tip of the hat to the new on-track hero, a drinking and dining space that club General Manager John Dunne said would put race goers both in comfort and the thick of the action.

Dunne said the club had also greatly improved facilities for participants as part of the $1.1 million works, which include $175,000 contributions from both the Andrews Government’s VRIF program and Harness Racing Victoria.

With Tabcorp Park Melton’s track undergoing an upgrade, Geelong is hosting Saturday night’s program and Dunne said that was “fantastic for us”.

“It’s an opportunity to showcase our new bar and restaurant, which is now on par with any race track in country Victoria,” he said.

“The Winning Post Bar and Restaurant is a brand new extension with a bar and two-tiered dining right on the windows, so you can dine while overlooking the winning post. It feels as though you are almost in the cart with the drivers.”

The expansion and improvements also include a new float carpark, upgraded drivers’ rooms and upgraded stables, while the upgrading of the grandstand facilities included a new roof.

“With these works, from a participant point of view, there are no better facilities, and so that helps sure up our racing future, and now we have the dining facility, so even in the depths of winter people can come and have a great night in comfort.

“We still have got some vacancies available in the Winning Post restaurant, so (patrons) can simply ring the club and we will book them in for their dinner on Saturday night.”

To book call 5275 4880, with plenty of great racing on offer across the nine-race card.

One major attraction will be the Jack Rabbit Winery Sundons Gift Trotters Free For All, where victory would see Tornado Valley become only the ninth Australasian trotter to break through the $1 million barrier.

The night also features the TAB Captain Sandy Free For All, which features Pacifico Dream, Boncel Benjamin, I Cast No Shadow, General Dodge, Im Anothermasterpiece, Roman Aviator and Reactor Now in a quality, open $24,000 free-for-all.

The club will also use the occasion to name the Lang Drivers' Rooms, in honor of the Lang family's enormous contribution to the sport. 

CLICK BELOW TO HEAR JOHN DUNNE ON SENTRACK'S TROTS LIFE THIS MORNING: