Country Series on ‘hold’ during pandemic

The Club Menangle Country Series has been one of the real success stories of harness racing in New South Wales, with trainers able to compete for some big money on country tracks before contesting an even richer final at Australia’s premier track, Tabcorp Park Menangle.

And while harness racing has followed strict protocols to enable racing to continue during the current pandemic, moving between regions has become a major hurdle for all stables.

For that reason, Club Menangle has made the logical decision to postpone the Country Series for the immediate future as the whole of Sydney and environs struggles to get on top of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Club Menangle had been able to revitalise the Country Series following last year’s lockdown, and plans were already in place to introduce a ‘mares only’ Country Series to complement the current series, which has now been run so successfully for several years.

Country trainers, many with a lifelong ambition to train [or drive] a winner at Menangle, get the opportunity to qualify a horse to race there after, winning a specified race at one of our major provincial circuits. That alone, guarantees that the series will return.

“Club Menangle is fully aware of how important the series is to our country participants, and the club intends to recommence the series as soon as safely possible,” said Club Menangle General Manager of Racing Operations, David Wonson.