PACING
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IT goes without saying that the Gold Crown Carnival will be the biggest beneficiary of the Bathurst Harness Racing Club’s new headquarters which are set to open later this year.
But it isn’t just the big crowds and the pacing enthusiasts who are set to benefit if club chief executive officer Danny Dwyer has his way.
Speaking during the last Shirley Turnbull Memorial meeting to be held on the current track at the Showground, Dwyer said he is hopeful that the new facilities, and in particular the 1070 metre track, will encourage more quality entries for the Gold Crown and Tiara.
“I think to be honest we’ve probably suffered a bit on the 800 metre track here for the Gold Crown,” Dwyer explained.
“I think we’ve probably lost a few horses that would normally come on a bigger track.
“That will probably give us the opportunity to maybe jag a few horses from Victoria and probably New Zealand as well.”
At this stage it appears that nominations for the Autumn features are on track to match those of previous years. Strong fields for the Crown, Tiara, Chalice and Bracelet would be a fitting way to send off the Showground as a host venue.
“It’s looking pretty good so far,” Dwyer said.
“Payments look as strong as previous years, [they are] looking similar to last couple of years in terms of nominations.
“We’re looking forward to the main events and another busy carnival which will be the last one at the Showground.”
The CEO did admit that there will be an element of sadness as the ‘farewell tour’ continues for the current track, but as someone who views the new facility on a daily basis, it is easy to see why he’s excited about the move.
Already he has plans in mind for how to inaugurate the new home at the foot of Mount Panorama.
“It certainly is [sad] in a way. But it’s a new start and an opportunity to get some younger people involved, which I think the new facility will,” he said.
“A lot of us grew up on going to the trots here. For the older people it will probably be a bit of a sad time, but onwards and upwards and we are really looking forward to the new track.
“The new track is very close to where I live, I see it quite regularly. It is coming along pretty good, the clubhouse and the stables’ structural steelwork is up, the track is probably about a third complete. Every day you see something different.
“Hopefully we will open it on a Sunday afternoon in September, that’s my first thought.
“If it doesn’t work out that way we will maybe look to something a bit later, maybe October I think when the weather gets better. It’s the start of the racing season and I think a Sunday afternoon up there would work really well as the major opening.”