A MEMORABILIA pavilion could soon be constructed at Bathurst Harness Racing Club (BHRC) thanks to the donations of two life members.
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The building would house significant items from the club’s 108-year history in its current location on College Road and its former site at the Bathurst Showground.
Oberon men Ray Mawhood and John Brien, who have long been involved with the club, have contributed a significant portion of the $85,000 required for the pavilion’s construction.
A development application (DA) to construct the pavilion has been lodged with Bathurst Regional Council.
Plans in the DA show the pavilion would be built along the southern side of the parade ring, in between the stables and club house.
BHRC’s sponsorship and marketing manager Marianne Donnelly praised the generosity of Mr Mawhood and Mr Brien.
“It’s fantastic, we are so overwhelmed and it’s really appreciated by the club,” she said.
“They’ve been great contributors to the club.”
It’ll keep track of the history of the club and highlight the great horses and people in the club.
- Bathurst Harness Racing Club's Marianne Donnelly
Ms Donnelly said the memorabilia pavilion would help to collate the club’s long and significant history in one place to ensure it was not lost.
“It’ll keep track of the history of the club and highlight the great horses and people in the club,” she said.
Ms Donnelly said some of Australia’s most well known pacing horses, including Hondo Grattan, King Frost, Rowleyalla and Smooth Satin, have taken to the BHRC’s track.
“They’re significant on a national stage,” she said.
While the club was still waiting for plans to be approved, Ms Donnelly has called on members of the industry and community to search their cupboards for any memorabilia that could be included.
“It is really important because it [the club’s history] can be lost and there have been so many great people and horses in Bathurst,” she said. “We’ve got a lot of old photos that we brought from the showground and old race books.”
Winners of the Gold Crown Carnival are also asked if they have memorabilia to contribute.
“We’d like to get it built as soon as we can,” Ms Donnelly said.