Club Menangle looking to capitalise on 2025 success

New South Wales premier harness racing association Club Menangle is preparing for another successful year following some excellent racing during the year.

The Club issued its 2025 Annual Report late in October of this year and although it made a loss of $2.141 million which was broadly in line with the loss in the previous year of $2.1 million, Revenue was up by $1 million over the same period. Stake monies paid also increased by $1 million in the year. The club’s investment income of just over $7 million was a major contributor to the revenue stream and that will continue to be significant component of revenues earned going forward.

Net assets decreased over the year but as it stands the value of $158.98 million which is also its Net Equity puts the club in a sound position going forward.

There were a number of racing highlights during 2025 probably no better than Don Hugo’s stirring win in the Miracle Mile following his success in the previous year’s Inter Dominion and Eureka which capped off a memorable twelve months for trainer Luke McCarthy and owner Tony Licastro.

Racing Manager David Wonson also highlighted other top racing efforts.

“I think the emergence of top two year old Hollywood Strip was a feature”

he indicated. The Sweet Lou colt won all his five races of which four were at Menangle including the New South Wales Breeders Challenge Final.

He added

“You also need to include the effort of Bay of Biscay in winning the Eureka. The connections had a long range plan set for that race and they avoided other features along the way”

“We also want to make next year’s Miracle Mile Carnival better taking advantage of this year’s record turnover and attendance”.

First run in 1967 when won by New Zealand mare Robin Dundee the Miracle Mile is the epitome of a classic mile race often featuring the best pacers in the land. The date for the big event in 2026 is 14 March.

One of the finest races at Menangle this year was the Macarthur Mile for trotting mares which saw Susan Is Her Name ending the unbeaten record of Keayang Zahara. The two drew clear of their rivals and it was a dramatic finish which had the crowd on their toes.

Whilst still not confirming the staging of the Eureka for next year, Wonson indicated that the race has done so much to enhance harness racing and generate interest amongst the public in general.

“We’re looking to get new attendees into harness racing. There’s been a huge growth in area population comprising of families. We need to attract these new communities to come to Menangle not just harness racing but our other features. Even if they came out say four to five times per year that would be an achievement”.

Wonson indicated that the New South Wales Sapling Stakes will be held one week before on Chariots of Fire night on 7 March.

“This will give the youngsters an extra week to prepare for the Bathurst Gold Crown and Gold Tiara event”.

“Our work with the McGrath Foundation and Pacing for Pink will culminate on 8 May with the New South Wales Oaks, Pink Bonnet, Queen Elizabeth Mile, Macarthur Mile and Trotters Oaks and we’ll have the markets with lots of events and fund raising activities”.

“Then we’ll have our Breeders Challenge Series in late October”.

The series produced some outstanding racing this year for the two, three and four year olds with separate races for the fillies and colts and geldings.

Menangle will resume the New year on 6 January and their initial metropolitan meeting will be on Saturday 10 January which will feature the Listed Adore Me Stakes for Mares.

by Tony Milanese, for Harnesslink