Historical races reintroduced at Timaru

In a salute to the past this Saturday (Nov, 19) the Timaru Harness Racing Club will bring back two of its oldest races.

The Timaru Challenge Stakes for three year olds and Timaru Nursery Stakes for two year olds, will reappear after many years on the sideline.

The Nursery Stakes was first run in 1936 and has had some great winners in the past, including Lordship (1961), Tactile (1962), Young Quinn (1972), and Tuapeka Knight (1987). The race was shelved in the 1990s.

The Challenges Stakes was run until the mid 1990s and winners included Master Mood and Bionic Chance. 

Both races on Saturday carry a $15,000 stake and although runner numbers are small, the Club hopes to build on both races in the future.

The other feature race on the day’s programme is the Tyre General Timaru Summer Cup which has drawn a capacity field of fifteen. It features up and comer Star Magic (He’s Watching) from Gavin Smith’s barn, the return to racing of Franco Marek (A Rocknroll Dance) the winner of his last four starts, and Allamericanlover (American Ideal) from the Telfer barn which will start off thirty metres.

In addition to the racing the public will be well looked after on Saturday, with a variety of activities available. 

“We’re having kids novelty races and a sulky race for the adults. We’re also having a ladies hat parade. We generally get a good crowd for this meeting. It’s our big feature meeting of the year,” Club President Gary Moir said.  

Racing gets underway at 1-35pm and will be broadcast on Trackside Two.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Bruce Stewart for Harnesslink