Widespread boom for harness racing at Globe Derby Park

Increases in prizemoney and turnover, bigger fields and better quality racing at Globe Derby Park, due largely to the collaboration between the Seymour Group and the South Australian Harness Racing Club, have seen a rebirth of the sport in the Croweater State over the past six months.

The SAHRC’s policy of increasing prizemoney is paying off with more starters and competitive racing.

The club has lifted stakemoney by $2,000 per race for four races each Saturday night and introduced monthly feature races from $15,000 to $25,000 to attract better quality horses and bigger fields.

The SAHRC has bucked the trend of metropolitan clubs around the country maintaining or reducing stakemoney levels by increasing its prizemoney and are reaping the benefits of the initiative.

The meeting at Globe Derby Park last Saturday saw a five percent increase in betting turnover from 12 months earlier.

In a further boost, the club has programmed new feature races at Globe Derby in February, May and June, commencing with the $25,000 SA Pot Of Gold for up to 59 class on Saturday, February 22.
And the best is yet to come with a $200,000 Slot Race for two-year-olds later in the season.

The club’s development is also proving a winner with blocks selected for sale ‘flying out the door’ at record prices for Adelaide.

“This is an incredible result with our best blocks retained for future sale and/or development by the club,” SAHRC president Anne Mowday said.

By Peter Wharton for SAHRC