Paying to watch the harness racing in Bathurst, except for major meetings, is now a thing of the past, with the Bathurst Harness Racing Club deciding to waive its entry free.
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The decision came into effect on July 1, with the club's meeting on July 3 the first to feature free entry.
However, cost for entry will still remain for the Gold Crown Carnival and for the Boxing Day meeting.
Bathurst Harness Racing Club CEO Danny Dwyer said the decision to waive the entry fee at meetings follows that of other clubs in the Riverina and metropolitan areas.
"I think it was something on the agenda for the club for a while now," he said.
"We had free entry to licensees at the request of Harness Racing NSW and with that in mind, our board discussed to move to all patrons."
Members of the Bathurst Lions Club collected the money for entry fees, with all funds going to the club.
Mr Dwyer said the club received around $25,000 from gate takings, but a majority of the funds came from major meetings such as those from the Gold Crown Carnival.
He said he believes that with free entry to meetings it will increase patronage and attendances at the club.
The move over to free entry to meetings tied in with the end of yearly memberships on June 30.