Independence Day – Charlton style!

On the face of it, there’s only one thing in common between the country Victorian town of Charlton (population 1000) and the giant “Big M” Meadowlands casino and racing megaplex in New Jersey.

It’s harness racing.  And for a club as energetic and ambitious as Charlton, that’s enough!

Undaunted by the contrast, the country Victorian club forged a new partnership with the Meadowlands and harness racing Hall of Famer Tim Tetrick as a focus for its inaugural Fourth of July Independence Day meeting yesterday, and the result was a stars and stripes celebration of all things American.

From flapjacks to Oreos, hotdogs to popcorn, fried chicken to donuts, the club’s free hospitality and on-track vibe were all red, white and blue.

“We were looking for new ways to promote the club, and we wanted to come up with different themes that no one else was doing. Just to find ways for people to get involved and have some fun – we’re always looking for different angles to bring in new patrons and draw more people to the sport,” Charlton HRC promotions manager Andrea O’Gorman said.

“We came up with Independence Day as an idea, and Harness Racing Victoria was good enough to give us the Sunday race date for the fourth of July this year, so we could make it happen.”

“From there, we approached the Meadowlands, and they were right on board – they were happy to partner up and even named a couple of races on their program today after Charlton as well!

“Champion driver Tim Tetrick was fantastic, too.  Tim’s racing colors are green and gold, so he was an obvious choice to be our Ambassador, and he was happy to be involved.”

All of the club’s races for the day were named after their New Jersey partner, and Tim Tetrick, as well as the only American in the club’s 700-strong membership base, Dale McGrath.

“Dale was fantastic – she’s from Boston, but married to a Charlton local who’s involved in harness racing, so she was very keen and got her company Ames Australasia on board,” O’Gorman said.

“That meant we could offer some terrific trainer trophies on every race.

“It was a lot of work, but a lot of fun and we did see a lot of new faces at the track.”

Charlton club president and local trainer Joey Thompson got right into the spirit of the day, taking out the main race with the appropriately-named Cee Cee in America (American Ideal – Ultimate CC (Christian Cullen).

It was the first time Charlton sibling drivers Ryan and Abby Sanderson had come up against each other under race conditions – the older, Ryan, holding the asendency on Cee Cee in America

Abby had to be content with second on Minimum Wage, trained by her father Shane.

By Terry Gange for Harnesslink