PREPARATIONS are on track for harness racing’s long-awaited return to Ouyen this Sunday.
A huge crowd and quality racing are tipped for the first Ouyen Cup meeting at Blackburn Park since the venue was closed by the former Labor Government in 2005.
A pre-2010 state election pledge to return cup meetings to six venues, including Ouyen, was honoured by the Coalition Government and its Racing Minister Denis Napthine late last year, paving the way for Sunday’s exciting eight-race program.
The highlight will be the Greggs Electrical Ouyen Pacing Cup (2809m), which has attracted eight entries, headed by 2011 Mildura Pacing Cup winner Ohoka Nevada, who was a smart second behind arguably Australia’s best pacer Smoken Up in last weekend’s South Australian Cup.
Tough opposition is expected from last year’s Ouyen Cup winner Our Hillview Gold, Forest Falcon from the powerful Mildura stable of Shayne Cramp and eight other starters from across Victoria and South Australia.
Ouyen Harness Racing Club secretary Max Jardine said interest was high in the meeting.
“We’ve put a lot of money and effort into it giving the community something,” Jardine said.
“Financially we’re probably better off staying at Mildura but we’re doing something for the community so we hope the community supports us,” he said.
“It’s not all about harness racing, it’s about a family day for the community.
“Ouyen is a small rural country town and we rely on outlying areas.”
Mr Napthine said the return of racing to Ouyen would be a significant boost for the local community and a god-send to local trainers, drivers, owners, breeders and racegoers
“The Ouyen Harness Racing Club and supporters fought hard for racing to return to Ouyen and Sunday will see the culmination of this very hard work,” he said.
“Upon coming to government, we have been working closely with the club and with Harness Racing Victoria to investigate what was required to bring the racing facility up to standard.
“Following these investigations, the Coalition Government committed $76,550 to return the track to a safe racing standard and improve facilities for patrons.
“This has included the installation of broadcast infrastructure, a new track surface, construction of a substantive retaining wall on the side of the track, new Tote facilities, new paving, cabling, lighting and a new judges’ tower.”
Mr Napthine said he looked forward to attending Sunday’s meeting, alongside Member for Mildura Peter Crisp.
Mr Crisp yesterday paid tribute to the club for its determination to re-open to the track to racing, in particular its signature cup race day.
“The efforts by the club’s committee members and other volunteers to fight for the re-opening of the track to racing and then to bring it back up to standard have been exceptional,” Mr Crisp said.
“The value of racing to country areas such as Ouyen in terms of the jobs it generates and the value it adds to our local communities cannot be underestimated and that is why the Coalition Government strongly backs country racing.
Ouyen is the first of six country harness racing tracks to re-open under the Coalition Government with racing returning to Wangaratta and Boort in March followed by Wedderburn, St Arnaud and Gunbower later in 2012.
Mr Napthine said the government has committed $678,000 from the Victorian Racing Industry Fund (VRIF) to bring the tracks up to racing standard.
“Work will include upgrades for track surfaces, broadcast facilities, spectator facilities and fencing,” he said.
“It is fantastic to see the Coalition Government’s $79.5 million VRIF make an impact on not only grass-roots clubs and country racing, but also the social and economic fabric of local communities.”
This article appeared in Thursday’s Sunraysia Daily 19/01/2012.
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