The Board of the Parkes Harness Racing Club would have to be thrilled with the response the Club received from owners and trainers after final acceptances were declared for tomorrow night’s 100th Anniversary meeting.
After overcoming the disappointment of having to cancel its original plan to stage the celebrations as part of the Carnival of Cups due to the Equine Influenza outbreak earlier this year, the Club immediately pursued another option and with the support of Harness Racing New South Wales and the Newcastle Club, were able to plan tomorrow’s staging.
Parkes Shire Council and Mayor Robert Wilson OAM are extending a civic reception to mark the occasion and a number of special guests will be attending while a memorabilia display on the history of the Parkes Club is a must for patrons to view.
The feature event on the night’s eight race program
will be the $8,000 Westoil Parkes Gold Cup (2430m), which has attracted a quality field.
Between them, the ten final acceptors have amassed $1,280,931 in prizemoney and have won 228 races.
The Gold Cup, which has been sponsored by Westoil Petroleum for a long time now is the Club’s signature race and has been run every year since 1955.
Form students would have to agree that this is without a doubt, the most even Cup field that has been assembled in the modern era.
Bathurst City Cup winner, King Of The Ranch (Mark Hager) will take a power of beating after drawing nicely in barrier three.