This year’s Blayney Show is taking both a sharp turn to the past, and taking a nod to the future of the showground precinct, with the renewal of an event that was once very common around the show circuit.
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Returning to this year’s show will be a harness racing event, and harness classes in the equine ring events.
Steward Phil Bourke said that it’s been a long time between harness races being run during the show.
‘It would have to be at least twenty to twenty five years,” he said.
- READ MORE: All the action at the 2018 Blayney Show.
“Harness racing used to be a feature of most shows but unfortunately with the removal of the running rail it was too risky with the insurance and all of that.”
A discussion with his daughter Alicia Bourke, who is on the show committee, led to the idea of reinvigorating the races, and bought back a few memories for him.
“My first competitive race was actually at the Blayney Show,” he said.
For Alicia it’s the opportunity to revitalise the show, and rekindle a few memories, which is her main motivations.
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“We’re not going to improve if we just keep on doing the same things,” she said.
“Plus this should really appeal to all those older residents who remember the harness racing from the shows in the past.”
Alicia said that to be a part of the race fixture all that you need to do is meet the criteria.
“The horse needs to be in training with a registered trainer, as well as being registered with harness Racing Australia,” she said.
“Then to drive your horse you need to be a qualified driver registered with Harness Racing Australia as well.
“After that you just need to ring up, put your entry in and pay.”
As a first attempt the organisers are being cautiously optimistic about how many races will be on the first ticket.
“Unfortunately we clash with the Gold Crown Races this year but we’ll see if we can get two or three races up this year,” Mr Bourke said.
Categories in the racing are three years old and older with zero lifetime wins and horses CO and better.
Also new this year are the harness classes in the ring including
- Sulky Turnout,
- Jogger Turn Out,
- Show Vehicle Turnout,
- Heavy Horse Turnout,
- Miniature Horse in Harness,
- Shetland Pony in Harness,
- Non Hackney Pony classes,
- Hackney Pony classes,
- Pleasure Pony in Harness classes,
- Junior Driver in Harness,
- Lady Driver in Harness,
- Gentleman Driver in Harness, and
- Supreme Champion harness Horse or Pony.