Warragul’s Cup meeting crucial in maintaining its survival

If ever there is a club that feels vulnerable as to its future Warragul has to figure prominently. As has been indicated by all and sundry in harness racing around Australia there is pressure on a number of clubs to either rationalise or face the prospect of losing their meetings with some going into permanent oblivion.

The challenge is especially pronounced for Warragul. It’s located in the Gippsland region which has always been the achilles heel of harness racing in Victoria. Apart from a well meaning but unsuccessful effort to get harness racing at Traralgon, Warragul has been the only track to serve the Eastern mid to lower region of Victoria.

In the past when they were a night venture Warragul was able to run up to 16 meetings per year. But the decline has been notable over the years even when the club reverted to day fixtures.

Club manager Des Hughes who has had a long and successful association with harness racing laments the decline.

“The last two scheduled meetings at end of 2024 and beginning of 2025 has to be cancelled due to lack of nominations.”

“We also have lost our traditional Seniors Meeting in October and our Christmas meeting in December.”

“A major factor has been the majority of races programmed having only $4,000 races. I’ve spoken to trainers who just aren’t prepared to come all the way to Warragul to race for that level of stake money. Hopefully this will change in the future.”

“We have very few horses that are trained here. There is one trainer with two horses at the track and one other with one or two horses as well.”

“At no stage have we been able to sit down with HRV and come up with a strategic plan going forward or even to present a case.”

In their response, HRV Chief Executive Matt Isaacs commented:

“Harness Racing Victoria works closely with all its stakeholders to foster a strong and sustainable industry.”

“Like all racing jurisdictions, there are varied industry challenges, some of which Warragul has felt. We welcome their committee’s efforts to continue to drive for the best outcomes for their club and the sport.”

“We wish them all the best for another successful Warragul Cup day and look forward to celebrating another two cup champions.”

The club races at Logan Park which is owned by the local shire. The greyhounds also race there on about 140 occasions per year but Hughes stresses that the two clubs have an excellent working relationship along with the other sports clubs that share the complex. The club were involved in a putting up a training centre in 1997 before it folded up some 20 years later. They have facilities for up to 14 horses and in the past have obtained some funding and grants from the HRV.

“We have to pay the same rent per year irrespective of having just one or 14 meetings per year.”

Des is on a casual rate as Manager while the remainder of work that is undertaken in entirely voluntary.

But all roads will lead to Warragul this Monday the Kings Birthday and the club is hopeful of attracting not just locals but also some of the holiday crowd that typically visit the Gippsland Region of Victoria.

The club has put together seven races with the feature event being the $17,500 Downtowner Warragul Pacing Cup Final. Heats were ran at nearby Cranbourne and Kilmore and an open field of eleven runners have accepted.

Check the fields for a strong seven races here:

Heat winners Muselet (Sweet Lou) and Doo Don’t Think (Well Said) have both drawn the front row and will be hard to beat.

The other main feature is the $20,000 Eddie Evison Memorial Trotters Cup to be run over the testing 2627 metre journey.

New Zealand bred John’s Boy (Simon Roydon) is from the powerful Brent Lilley stable and he has won four of his seven appearances since commencing his Australian career in January. The other interesting runner is four year old mare Pinnie (Volstead) but she has to come off 20 metres. Hoppy (Andover Hall) has ability and is making the long trip for his trainer Matt Craven from Terang to contest the event.

There will be a bookmaker and a punters club will be set up on the day for patrons.

Hughes and his committee will get together after the Cup meeting to continue putting their case forward.

“We want to keep going. And we are not going to lie down. We want to maintain our ground and are not giving up.”

The Warragul team have facts and figures to support their case. The Gippsland region has shown a notable increase, with projections indicating further growth. Projections suggest a further 50,000 population increase (20%) over five years by 2026.

Clearly though due to their geographical position the main challenge for Warragul going forward is to attract more trainers to their meetings. This will take a great deal of working with the various harness racing associations and have a set out agreed plan to run viably.

It would indeed be a major blow if harness racing was to leave the only presence in the Gippsland as it would be unlikely to return once it ceases.

However Des Hughes and his team while they are around will ensure every effort to keep Warragul going and for that they need to be supported.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink