Honour for harness racing stalwart

Parkes Harness Racing Club will honour Eugowra man John Greenhalgh on Monday afternoon following his passing in his hometown five weeks ago.

Until recently, Greenhalgh was a mainstay of his Club which is renowned for conducting the rich Canola Cup Carnival that boasts the $30,000 Canola Cup each year.

Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the carnival was not run last year and again has been abandoned in 2021.

“It is one of the district’s real success stories and no one worked harder to ensure it was the best”, said Western District and Parkes Harness Racing Club President Geoff Cole.

Greenhalgh was President of Eugowra when the Canola Cup was first run and held that role for many years as well as serving a term as the WDHRA President himself.

It is wholeheartedly agreed that John was “the” driving force behind the feature which originally offered a Horse Float as its trophy along with the strong prizemoney.

Parkes Harness Racing Club is hosting what would have been Eugowra’s day of days this afternoon and the Vale John “Bandy” Greenhalgh Pace, a $10,000 Maiden is the highlight on the eight race program.

Dubbo trained gelding Terror To Rock appears to be the benchmark horse heading into the race after handy efforts at his three runs back at the track following a short layoff.

Prepared by Michael Carroll and to be driven by Bathurst ace Mat Rue, the three year old has come up with a favorable front line draw in barrier five and the 2040 metre journey should suit.

Rue will no doubt look for a forward position as the gelding does have the speed to leave the gate quickly.

“We had this race in mind as soon as it popped up in the program”, trainer Carroll explained.

“I thought we may have picked up a win with him by now, but he has been a bit of a work in progress and has not had much luck in his races. Hopefully things will change today”.

Locally trained pacer, Meggs Is Me appears to be the main danger to Terror To Rock after drawing well in barrier three.

He is coming off a strong second last time out in a similar race while Grenfell mare Tyras Magic ran fifth in the same race and from barrier two should find a forward position.

By Michael Dumesny for HRNSW