Leeton legends painted in glory

A group of harness racing legends are being immortalised in art by the southern New South Wales club of Leeton.

The Riverina Club is famed for its annual Breeders Plate two-year-old feature, which is being run for the 70^th time this year between Christmas and New Year.

President Jo Punch said the club had unveiled a new mural in the lead up to the carnival that is creating a huge amount of interest among locals and in the wider harness racing community.

“We’ve featured in the mural drivers who have been part of our Breeders Plate and there are some very well-known names among them,” Punch said.

“The Walkers and the Harpleys were early winners, and their race colors are featured, along with the Diebert colors that represent many Riverina trainer-driver premierships,” she said.

“The Lang colors are there, too, because Stewart Lang was one of the founders of the event.  All the others are Breeder Plate winners including trainer-drivers Bill Trembath, Blake Jones, Jackson Painting and Col Thomas.”

Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party and Federal Member for Farrer Sussan Ley recently called into the track – and liked what she saw.

“That was a proud moment for the club because not only did Sussan enjoy the mural, but she also engaged with the local committee regarding our efforts to bring spectators back to the races,” Punch said.

“Importantly, she is joining the push for the Leeton club to get new lighting and fencing at the track.”

Race goers will have the opportunity to view the magnificent new mural at the coming Christmas Carnival on Boxing Day (Dec 26) and New Years Day (Jan 1).

The night fixture on Boxing Day is highlighted by the $30,600 Southern Central Engineering Breeders Plate. Other feature events include the Woods Family local pace of $12,240, restricted to pacers trained within 150 kms of Leeton; along with qualifying heats of the Milbrae Quarries and the Golden Apple Super Store series.

The New Year’s night meeting is headlined by the $18,360 Yenda Producers Leeton Pacers Cup. The Kriden Park Invitational Ladies Race will be hotly contested as well as the Frank Fuimara Memorial

Both the Quarries and Super Store finals carry stakes on $14,994.

“We are expecting big crowds at the two-meeting carnival with family fun such as mini ponies, a jumping castle, face painting, and the famous Lions train,” Punch said.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink