Persistent rain and wind failed to dampen the spirits of the more than 1000 racegoers who saw the Peter Tonkin-trained four-year-old Devlish Smile take out the $25,000 Greggs Electrical Ouyen Pacing Cup with Mickey Mac second and Ohoka Nevada third.

Local trainer Malcolm Retallick also had some success with Joan Margaret finishing in a dead heat for third in the first race.

However, the same could not be said for the Murray Jardine-trained Exsalont which galloped and was sent to the back of the field, finishing last.

Ouyen Harness Racing Club secretary Max Jardine said the event had exceeded the club’s expectations with people travelling from as far as Broken Hill, Warracknabeal, Maryborough and Adelaide.

“For the people that have come here it has been great, there are people here who we haven’t seen for 15 years,” Mr Jardine said.

“The feedback we have received has been fantastic,” he said.

Local businesses have also reaped the benefits of the weekend’s events as a result of visitors to the district.

Part-owner of Ouyen’s Victoria Hotel Fred Fuller said the pub had done an excellent trade across the weekend.

“There’s been an influx of people into the town which is what the town needs,” Mr Fuller said,

“A lot of people in the town benefit from that.”

Mr Jardine said the Minister for Racing Denis Napthine, who visited Ouyen yesterday, had been suitably impressed with the work put in by the committee and the local community.

“He said ‘this is just what the industry needed and to see harness racing return to Ouyen is fantastic’,” Mr Jardine said.

“It’s just a terrific atmosphere,” he said.

After putting in countless hours of work to ensure the facilities and the track met occupational health and safety standards, Jardine praised the people of Ouyen for supporting the event.

“There’s people here who don’t even go to the Mildura meetings,” he said.

“It’s just a good race crowd and it’s been fantastic to see everyone get behind it.”

After receiving the support the committee had received this year, Mr Jardine said he would hope the event would be bigger and better next year.

He also hoped that the club would get more of their race meetings back in the future.

This article appeared in Monday's Sunraysia Daily 23/1/2012.