Another successful Pacing For Pink wraps up for 2024

Pacing For Pink is done and dusted for another year, and 2024 was bigger and better, with this year their biggest one yet, seeing every state in Australia that conducts harness racing getting involved in the fantastic fundraising initiative.

Marg Watson, the backbone behind Pacing For Pink started the initiative in 2011 to bring her community of Cobram together for a good cause, with all proceeds going to the McGrath Foundation, and with Pacing For Pink now branching out, the home base for the initiative now at Shepparton Harness Racing Club.

With The Cobram Harness Racing Club looking in real danger, Watson decided that something needed to be done to get the community back on board, which is how Pacing For Pink came about, and after over a decade of growth, Watson hopes to continue to see the fundraiser grow, nationwide, with hopes to see even more drivers sponsored and involved next year.

“At the first meeting back in 2011, we had a dinner at the cub and the funds from the gate entries went to the McGrath foundation.” Marg Watson said

Last year Pacing for Pink surpassed $100,000 in funds and this year was even better, with Marg Watson ecstatic with how well the month of May went for the relatively fresh-faced fundraising opportunity.

“We’re going to reach our goal of $150,000, across Australia, but it is amazing, because it is tough times.” Marg Watson said.

Marg’s ambition is to get more of the younger kids involved as well as the country tracks involved, and hopefully see 2025 even bigger and better than the very successful 2024.

This year, the pony trot drivers in victory got involved with a whopping 19 kids donning the pink pants for April and May, raising awareness and funds for the foundation.

In WA, we saw 22 drivers don the pink pants for the month of May, with Shannon Suvaljko taking bragging rights with 21 wins in the month of May.

Both Chris Voak and Stuart McDonald ended the month with 15 wins each, and after seven wins last week alone, Gary Hall Jnr wound up with 13 wins in May.

Deni Roberts and Emily Suvaljko flew the flag for the ladies, with both ending the Pacing For Pink campaign with 10 wins each.

WA’s Sponsored Drivers                                                                                      

Dylan Egerton-Green | Regency Foods                            Micheal Ferguson | DJ6 Pacing

Kyle Harper | A Class Pacing                                            Jocelyn Young | Matt & Kayla Young

Aiden De Campo | Magnificent Storm                              Shannon Suvaljko | Padberg Pacing

Hayden Charles | Equus Finance Pty Ltd                        Chris Voak | South West Pony Trots

Jamie Rigoli | Equus Finance Pty Ltd                              Mitchell Miller | Russell T Betts

Emily Suvaljko | Bella Glam                                              Deni Roberts | Team Bond

Callan Suvaljko | Perth City Tyres                                    Ryan Warwick | Team Bond

Maddison Brown | Delta Print                                           Donald Harper | The Trots WA

Stuart McDonald | Hayden Reeves Pacing                      Kyle Symington | Bells Pacing Stable

Liam Elliot | Federal Football Club                                   Trent Wheeler | Four Diamonds Pacing

Cody Wallrodt | Owen Gilbride Equine Dentist

Gary Hall Jnr | Michael Young Pacing Stable

Retravision – Colours                                                        The Trots WA – Colours

WA is set to get involved again next year, with hopes to run fundraising events at the numerous country clubs throughout the Month of May.

by Ashleigh Paikos, for RWWA