IT was the end of an era on Saturday night when Bathurst Showground played host to the Gold Crown final for the last time.
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Talented two-year-old colt Artistic Flite took home the major prize on a night that was as much about the history of harness racing in Bathurst as it was about the past.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, next year’s Gold Crown carnival – in Bathurst’s bicentenary year – will be run at Bathurst Harness Racing Club’s new home currently under construction on Ethelten Avenue, in the shadows of Mount Panorama. It will be a massive boost for a carnival that has already become one of the biggest annual events on the nation’s harness racing calendar.
For 28 years, the state’s best trainers and drivers – and, of course, harness racers – have spent a couple of weeks in Bathurst, all chasing the riches on offer in the major races.
The carnival has also cemented Bathurst’s reputation as the harness racing capital of regional NSW and given the city countless hours of valuable exposure on racing TV stations.
And that reputation will only grow once the new harness racing track is open.
The Gold Crown will never rival the Bathurst 1000 as the region’s signature event, but we should never underestimate its value to our city.
Any annual events that bring people to our city contribute not only to our local economy, but also to the fabric of our region.
Events like the Bathurst 1000, the Gold Crown carnival, Bathurst Eisteddfod, Edgell Jog, Blayney to Bathurst and Royal Bathurst Show are all vital parts of our community and, importantly, appeal to the widest array of people.
We want to give as many people as possible a reason to come to Bathurst and that’s exactly what these major events do. And when the Gold Crown carnival moves to its new home next year, hopefully it will bring in even more.
