Painting the town pink at Shepparton

An astonishing 218 drivers across Australia have set up harness racing’s annual breast cancer “pink” promotion for financial and awareness success.

Pink Day at Shepparton has become the centrepiece of the national harness racing phenomenon that is Pacing for Pink, and the Kialla circuit will again be awash with pink this Sunday (May 7).

The big event is a major fundraiser for one of Australia’s most recognized charities in the McGrath Foundation and is aimed at raising much-needed funds for breast care nurses as well as driving awareness of breast cancer in the racing community.

Reinsmen and reinswomen are being sponsored throughout the entire month to wear pink pants, featuring their names and those of their sponsors.

“Almost everyone who supported us last year is on board again, and there are a lot of new people, including drivers, but also the local community, business houses, sponsors and people willing to donate raffle items. The support’s just wonderful again, and this could be our biggest year yet,” hardworking coordinator Marg Watson said.

“The really lovely thing is that there are so many men involved this year – most of the new drivers involved are young people and a lot of them are men which shows just how far we have come,” she said.

The McGrath Foundation was established in the name of Jane McGrath, the late wife of former cricketing great Glenn, who was just 31 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. It is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia for women and the foundation’s mission is to ensure that no one goes through breast cancer without the support of a breast care nurse.

The 218 reinsmen and women who are donning the pink pants for their drives this month is up from 180 last year and harness racing authorities in each State will again make a financial contribution for each winner by a driver in the eye-catching strides.

This year is the 12-year anniversary of the promotion, which began as a fundraising lunch at the Cobram harness racing club in country Victoria.

That first event raised $9,000, but from there the concept took off. Female drivers were permitted to wear pink pants to support the cause, first on the Cobram pink raceday, then later, across the month of May.

The promotion day eventually outgrew Cobram, and moved to Shepparton in 2021, then for the first time in 2022 drivers Australia-wide voluntarily donned the pink pants.

It’s hoped the 2023 harness racing campaign will raise at least as much as last year which was $140,500 –enough to sponsor and educate a nurse to provide free physical, psychological and emotional support for women diagnosed with breast cancer and their families.

Watson was recognised with the Pearl Kelly Honour at the Victorian industry awards last week for her dedication to Pacing for Pink since its inception.

But, in typically modest fashion, she points instead to the huge band of supporters, sponsors, workers and industry participants who ensure the growing success of the campaign.

“The award was really humbling because there are so many people who work so hard for this day, and we get such amazing support.”

Watson said the support of major sponsors Hygain and Carbine Chemicals would mean giveaways to owners, trainers and drivers engaged at Sunday’s meeting.

“Across the board, there are people and businesses from all over the place who’ve contributed some really valuable items for the major raffle and silent auction. And we appreciate and value them all. Every little thing that someone does makes a difference and goes towards making this a really special day that everyone enjoys being part of.”

A key supporter of Pink Day at Shepparton is the Angelique Club, which honors and promotes the role of women in harness racing for the past 25 years.  It has renamed its feature race on Sunday’s card as the Olive Hayes Memorial Pace, in honor of the late foundation member of the club.

Hoofnote: And Pacing for Pink in Victoria got off to a flying start, with young Taylor Youl taking the honors of being the first to salute in pink pants at Monday’s (May 1) Hamilton meeting with Iamnopet (Pet Rock). Robbie Walters, Aaron Dunn, Jason Ainsworth and Ewa Justice were hot on Taylor’s heels following up with wins in later races and at Swan Hill that night, the pink pants were again out in force with Ellen Tormey, Tayla French and Alex Ashwood scoring wins and Jack Laugher scoring a brilliant treble.

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink