Makeshift amenities and Mildura is back!

It’s taken an all-in team effort, but Victoria’s busiest harness racing meetings are back home at Mildura from tonight (Nov 8) – and with its customary 12-race card to boot.

Rain damage to club facilities from October’s downpours had forced the relocation of two meetings to the northern region sister club Swan Hill and it was feared the transfer of meetings could become long-term, until the works could be done.

“Given that there is water damage in a number of areas in our buildings, we were faced with two options,” said Mildura HRC Chief Executive Officer Michelle McGinty.

“We could pitch in and get the club fully set up to race out of portable locations for as long as we have to or have all Mildura meetings transferred elsewhere for an unknown timeframe.  Option two was never an option!” she said.

Although the Mildura track was in in good order and ready to race, administrative buildings required urgent remedial work following the severe water damage.

It’s taken a Herculean effort by McGinty and a passionate group of club supporters, along with some creative thinking, to allow Mildura to get back to racing at home.

The voice of Mildura, commentator Luke Humphreys will be calling all the action tonight but that might be about the most familiar aspect of the meeting, certainly for participants and racing officials. The club’s administrative headquarters and all hospitality areas in the Ray Hepworth Centre and surrounds will be closed but temporary facilities will cover all bases.

Administration functions and the numbers room have been set up in a portable caravan, the Hattah Roadhouse Marquee will provide bistro catering and seating area, the TAB caravan has been brought in to provide on-course wagering and stewards will operate out of cricket clubrooms at the site – which traditionally operates a bar at regular meetings.

Scaffolding and a portable caravan have been erected to accommodate the judges and race caller.

“All areas will be located remote from the buildings, so we’re asking participants to bear with us through any teething issues that might crop up for us in week one,” McGinty said.

Mildura is Victoria’s most isolated harness racing track but attracts more starters per race meeting than any other venue in the State.

The strong contingent of locally based trainers and drivers, who predominately race at Mildura, were among those who made the journey to Swan Hill for the club’s meetings on October 24 and November 1.

“We are fortunate that we’ve had amazing support from so many people around the club and certainly we owe a massive thank you to all our contractors and suppliers,” McGinty said.

“They’ve gone out of their way to work with the club and HRV to have Mildura back up and racing for this week’s meeting,” she said.

“The fantastic team at Swan Hill Trotting Club also has our thanks for taking on our transferred meetings at short notice.”

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink