Racing returns to Terang

It’s been more than 600 days since the last meeting, but harness racing is finally set to resume in Terang this evening following the completion of a state-of-the-art stable complex at Dalvui Raceway.

The 11-race card kicks off from 5.37pm and will see horses and participants compete for the first time at Terang since the Cup meeting on February 19, 2022.

Terang Harness Racing Club executive officer Mark Roberts said the new complex was a “magnificent facility”.

“There’s 99 stalls, all undercover, new wash bays, you’ve got swabbing boxes, full concrete floors and there’s an area for the public to view the horses and the participants that’s safe and out of the way,” Roberts said. “The participants can drive their horses straight out once they’re yoked up.

“The middle of June and July in the south-west can be quite cold and miserable, so hopefully it’ll assist drawing others down here in those times of the year.”

Roberts said six financial stakeholders were involved in the project, which cost in the vicinity of $2 million.

“There’s the state and federal governments, HRV has been involved, there’s also the club, the local Corangamite Shire has tipped in and there’s a local owners and trainers group that has been fundraising for a number of years and tipping in a sizeable amount of funds for the project,” Roberts said.

“And it’s not just the funding. For example, we had a working bee last week and I reckon there was about 50-plus here, so they provide a lot of voluntary labour for the club as well.”

Roberts said the upgrades at Dalvui Raceway would serve as a huge boost to the local community and not just the racing club.

“During the St Pat’s bushfire in 2018, we identified that we needed that local, safe area where people can bring themselves and their animals, and have the amenities they need in an emergency, so that’s a facility that will now be available,” Roberts told Harnesslink.com in August.

“It’s a win-win for everyone. Certainly, there have been some hiccups along the way, but I think once it’s done, and we are back up and racing, that will all be forgotten.”

For complete race entries, click here.

by Tim O’Connor, for Harness Racing Victoria