Easter Sunday Harness Racing
The Number 1 Club Carnival of Cups event comes to the Goulburn Paceway on Easter Sunday afternoon, 24th April, and for the harness racing fans it will provide a day of high quality racing and entertainment.
On the racing side, the afternoon will feature a number of key races spearheaded by the $25,000 Frank and Edna Day Goulburn Cup. For C5 and better pacers, the mobile event will be conducted over the 2240m journey and in its inaugural 2010 edition was won by the outstanding Dubbo pacer Karloo Mick.
The harness racing historians will be pleased to see the return of the Goulburn Sapling Stakes. Carrying prize money of $10,000, the 2yo classic will be known as the Andrew Lederer Memorial Goulburn Sapling Stakes. Sponsored by Belmore Estate and Goulburn First National, the race was first conducted in 1935, and though enduring a shaky start at first, being held intermittently until after World War Two, it was later held continuously until the mid 1970’s. Available records indicate Merry Karamea driven by Michael Day as the last winner in 1977 and club officials are hoping this year’s event will be the start of another long innings for the race
Whilst an old classic is being resurrected, the present committee will preside over the running of a new event, the $15,000 Goulburn Rose for C2 to C4 pacers. Catering for the up and coming pacers, the event is sponsored by the Goulburn Soldiers Club and will be contested over the mobile 2240m journey.
The afternoons racing will also feature the $10,000 Goulburn Produce and Rural Supplies Pace for C4 to C6 pacers and the $7,000 Goulburn Mulwaree City Cup for C1 to C2 horses. These races cater for the bulk of horses that race in country NSW. With the Carnival of Cups initiative being to provide country clubs with an opportunity to showcase the sport and to give ‘bread and butter’ horses the chance to earn good levels of prize money, Goulburn’s day promises much for the industry participant and fans. Other races on the programme include the $6,000 Tattersalls Hotel Ladyship pace, the $6,000 Goulburn First National 3yo pace and the $6,000 Belmore Estate Lordship pace.
The ‘Carnival of Cups’ brand has been successfully conducted throughout NSW for the past few years and Eastern Sunday’s race day is the first time the Goulburn Club is holding the carnival.
Featuring a sheep and wool theme, the club has organised a number of activities and promotions. Visitors to Goulburn can check out sheep shearing, enjoy musical entertainment by the talented Kerrie O’Keefe, and savor succulent ‘lamb on the spit’ rolls whilst children will have a selection of activities to keep them occupied including a giant jumping castle, obstacle course, face painting and giant Easter Egg drop.
The club will also conduct a raffle for $1,000 fuel sponsored by the Big Merino Shell, whilst also continuing with the ‘Pick the Last 5 winners’ competition and the second chance draw to win quality Kingsdale wines.
The Goulburn Club is indebted to our many sponsors who are helping to make the day possible, including Goulburn Party Hire, Maddens Bulk Haulage, Australian Wool Network, Goulburn Mulwaree Council and the Goulburn Rose Committee.
Another feature on the day is the attendance of Peita Manning’s Kalimbah standardbreds. A standardbred re-education organisation, they will be on course and fans of the light harness sport can see first hand the versatile qualities of the standardbred.
Visitors who purchase a race book will also have the opportunity to enter a draw for the chance to win a new Toyota Yaris. Entries will need to be submitted by race 5 as the lucky entrant drawn will be one of 25 to test their key at the 2011 Industry Awards night to win the Toyota Yaris.
Entry to the course will be $10.00; however pensioners, under 16’s and Harness Racing Club members will be admitted free. The Goulburn Harness Racing Club committee invites all fans to make Easter Sunday afternoon a success by coming out to the Paceway for what promises to be the best harness racing seen on the track since racing resumed in 2008.
