Herbertson shines on a great day at Warragul

“It’s a great little track, the best half-mile track in Australia in my opinion.”

Victoria’s leading harness racing reinsman James Herbertson was quick to praise the quality of the Warragul trotting track after he drove Cranbourne pacer Master Remi (Somebeachsomewhere) to win the $10,000 Traralgon Pacing Cup last Wednesday afternoon.

The talented Herbertson travels countless kilometres around the state each year driving on most tracks, and his words of confidence in the Logan Park circuit are backed up by the quality of the Gippsland racetrack design and the fast times regularly recorded in races there.

The Traralgon Pacing Cup set a new track record time and became one of the fastest run races for the 1790 metre distance seen at Warragul.

“I’ve only been driving here for a few years, but its a great little track, Herbertson said, his win with Master Remi bringing up a driving treble for the afternoon, following success with Shoobees Spirit and Imperial Whiz earlier in the day.

It caps off a significant year for Warragul Harness Racing Club, which was awarded the Club of the Year title back in October.

The volunteer committee at Warragul have introduced several initiatives for spectators and participants alike at Logan Park, in an effort to build up awareness of their activities.

The club and its facilities have a good reputation among participants, and additions of such initiatives as a set of horse weighing scales, new vet room and warm water in the horse wash bays have all been well received.

Memberships are at record levels for the club, and raceday dining package bookings have increased as more people discover the excellent spectator facilities on offer at Logan Park.

Wednesday’s race meeting attracted the highest number of entrants for a race fixture at Warragul in over two years.

In the main race, Master Remi was heavily backed by punters, at one stage firming from odds of $14 on tote into $4, and moved three-deep on the track from back in the field with one circuit to go, striking the lead at the 600 metre mark.

Long priced pacer Popcornfriday, driven by Chris Alford, who was in search of his seventh winning drive in the race, went with Master Remi, and in fact took the lead on the home turn.

However Master Remi fought back strongly when headed to record his seventh race victory at start 55.

It gave trainer Jayne Davies her second triumph in the Traralgon Pacing Cup, and was the first for owner John McLeish and driver Herbertson.

Davies also racked up her 1300th individual training success in the race, many of those having been recorded locally.

Co-feature race on Wednesday was the Roly Thompson Memorial won by Maas Betting Again for trainer Alison Alford and driver Josh Duggan, while another highlight was a training double to Ben Yole who won with Dreamers Delight (driver Codi Rauchenberger) and All Good (Taylor Youl).

Our Cheeky Devil won the third race for visiting horseman Jeremy Quinlan in a tight photo finish from Cranbourne pacer Rakajed.

The first trotters race run from the mobile start barrier was won by veteran Cranbourne horseman Allan Lousada with his gelding Blanco Canyon, in what was a popular victory.

Wednesday’s meeting was very well attended, with a Christmas theme, and as an annual tribute to the former Traralgon Harness Racing Club.

Many memories of the past history of trotting in the Latrobe Valley were shared by spectators present.

For complete race results, click here.

by Kyle Galley, for Harness Racing Victoria