Officials are hoping ideal conditions and quality trackside action will draw a crowd of about 2000 to Echuca Harness Racing Club’s annual New Year’s Day meeting.
The race day is the biggest on the local harness racing calendar and has been strengthened for 2024.
For the first time, the annual pacing and trotting cups will be run and won on the opening day of the new year.
Echuca Harness Racing Club president Shane Gloury said the move has been made to showcase the best possible on-track action.
“As a club we decided to run our major cups in front of our biggest crowds of the year,” he said.
“The moving of the Moama Bowling Club Echuca Pacing Cup and the Arch Electrical Group Echuca Trotters Cup will add plenty of quality to the meeting.
“The nominations for both races have been strong and they highlight what is a terrific nine-race card.”
The feature event, the $30,000 Moama Bowling Club Echuca Pacing Cup (2560m), received 11 acceptors on Thursday.
Magnetic Terror, who has drawn on the inside of the second row, is one of the headline acts, according to Gloury.
“Andy Gath is one of the state’s champion trainers,” he said.
“He’s got a runner in each of the pacing and trotting cups.
“Majestic Terror has won his past two starts at Melton and will take some beating.”
Kate Gath will drive Majestic Terror, who has won six of his 29 career starts.
One runner to keep a close eye on is the evergreen mare Tangoingwithsierra, who finished third behind Pas Guarantee in the 2023 Echuca Pacing Cup (2560m).
Trained at Byrneside by Craig Hoban, the eight-year-old is on the outside of the second row, but has gained the services of star reinsman Greg Sugars.
The $20,000 Arch Electrical Echuca Trotters Cup (2530m) received 12 acceptors on Thursday.
The Gath-trained Chinese Whisper is also nominated for Melton on New Year’s Eve and will need to overcome a 30m handicap.
Champion driver Chris Alford has the steer with Grumpee, trained by his wife Alison.
Bitta Irish Luck, fresh from success in the Gunbower Trotters Cup, will need to overcome the inside draw on the second row.
The undercard features the Frank & Carmel Ryan Memorial Pace, and strong local participation as Gloury explained.
“We’re a grassroots club, who support grassroots racing,” he said.
“There’s a number of Echuca trainers who will have a runner or two at the meeting, including Mick McMahon, Fred McKenner, Mathew Beecroft, Susan Hunter and Wayne Lear.
“We’ve also got runners from across the Goulburn Valley, including Shepparton, Kyabram, Rochester and Tongala.”
Gloury said the outstanding on-track action will be complemented by an array of features off-track.
“We’re looking to cater to the entire family, so there’s a heap of kids activities, including a jumping castle and water slide,” he said.
“We’ll have a live band — The Sensational 70s and 80s who are from Melbourne — playing all the classics.
“They were here last year and proved a real hit with the crowd, so it’s great to have them back.
“There is also a variety of food trucks, there will be a barbecue running and additional bars as well.”
For the punters, a bookmaker and on-track TAB facilities are on offer, while the traditional Punters Club will be in action.
“We’ve got bookmaker Graham Adams, who is a terrific supporter of the club, and comes up to all of our meetings,” Gloury said.
“He’ll be kept busy and so to will be the TAB, while Darren Carroll is running the Punters Club again for us, you can purchase a spot for $10 a ticket.”
Admission is $10 for adults, with children admitted for free.
Gates open at 4.30pm, with the first race set to jump at 5.34pm.
The Arch Electrical Echuca Trotters Cup is timed to jump at 7.46pm, with the Moama Bowling Club Echuca Pacing Cup set to start from 8.56pm.
Echuca Harness Racing Club is located on Simmie St, Echuca.
For those unable to get to the track, television coverage of the meeting will be available through Sky Channel and TrotsVision, while RSN will broadcast radio coverage.