WITH his involvement in motor sport spanning more than 50 years Garry Rogers is a man who knows all about racing, but his knowledge of horsepower goes beyond cars.
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Rogers is also man who also knows about the harness racing industry.
It meant that following Friday's action at Mount Panorama, where Garry Rogers Motorsport had two cars vying for qualifying spots in the 1000 and another campaigning in the Super2 Series, he headed to the Bathurst Paceway.
He took in the action of the Bathurst Harness Racing Club's meeting and presented a trophy to the Amanda Turnbull after she drove Maximus Red to victory in the Bathurst Shootout (1730 metres).
He joked that he enjoys watching both forms of horse power, but added: "Let me tell you, you make no money out of either, but if you enjoy doing it, that's the main thing."
"I have trotters and pacers, I don't have a lot now, but I used to have a lot of horses, I had 60 horses in work for awhile," Rogers said.
"I live on a farm, I breed my own and race a few and have a lot of fun doing."
Rogers praised the Bathurst Harness Racing Club for staging an eight-race meeting during the 1000.
Given its proximity to the Mount Panorama circuit and race week camping grounds, he feels it was an ideal way to promote the sport. He also thinks it is a meeting which will grow in popularity.
"Personally, I think this is a very progressive club here. I don't involve myself much these days - I breed a few and I still race a few - but from what I see at this particular club is that everyone gets really well behind it and they promote it really well," he said.
"You've only got to look at the amount of campers who come to this event, this can only grow, there's absolutely no doubt about it because there are so many people now who come in caravans and tents.
"Those people who come to enjoy the event, they'll soon latch on to harness racing because it's a a great atmosphere."
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This year's Bathurst Shootout only featured seven horses, but it was still a quality field.
Having clocked a track record at Eugowra on Monday - a 1:56.9 - Maximus Red started as the $1.50 favourite.
The five-year-old gelding made a good start from barrier six and by the time they hit the first turn, had crossed and taken the lead.
Once in front that is where Amanda Turnbull, driving for her father Steve Turnbull, kept him.
Maximus Red went on to win by 5.9m over Scarlett Babe ($6.50) in a hot 1:55.0 mile rate on a wet track.
Rogers offered praise for the winning trainer and driver.
"The Turnbull family are synonymous with racing ... anytime you watch harness racing, and not just necessarily around New South Wales, the Turnbull name is there. They just do it all," he said.
"That's really important, people latch on to those sort of things and they get a following."