First held in 2010, the $12,740 Hewitt Memorial has been won by a host of classy performers, and in more recent years that list has the included Just Cala, the 3YO Breeders Crown champion filly who won the Hewitt Memorial in 2015.  

Trained and driven by Dennis Picker, the grandson of Tom and Angela Hewitt steered the 4YO Art Major mare to an easy win over a good quality field.  Just Cala raced on for another 7 starts recording a couple of wins in Melton Victoria before retiring to the breeding barn.  The Group 1 winning mare is now the dam of a yearling filly by super sire Bettors Delight.

In 2016 the Hewitt Memorial winner was the aptly named Spare Me Days, owned, trained and driven by Brad Hewitt, another of Tom and Angela’s grandsons.  Named after one of Tom’s favourite expressions, Spare Me Days established a race record of 1:57.2 for the 2240 metre distance.  A star in young Brad’s stable, the now 7YO horse has developed into a quality fast class performer with race track earnings fast approaching $350,000.

Last season’s winner Sams The Master trekked across the divide from Bathurst providing Nathan Turnbull and his owner, the present HRNSW Board Chairperson Rod Smith with their first Hewitt Memorial winner.  The now 5YO Tell All gelding went on to contest the Group 1 Chariots Of Fire at Menangle before venturing south where this season he has raced successfully in Victoria and looks certain to increase his lifetime earnings well past the $150,000 achieved to date.

Supporting the Hewitt Memorial will be the $12,740 Walla Walla Stakes for the C4 and better grade pacers.  With the immortal pacer buried adjacent to the Goulburn Paceway’s home straight, the Walla Walla Stakes is being held for the fourth year and provides trainers with the ideal lead up race to the Group 3 $31,800 Goulburn Soldiers Club Frank & Edna Day Goulburn Cup to be run during Goulburn’s Carnival of Cups race day on the 28th January.

Sunday’s meeting is the first of four being conducted by the Canberra and Goulburn harness racing clubs as part of their combined summer carnival of racing.  With over $300,000 in prize money on offer, the two Southern Tablelands clubs are trying to give back to the participants that so often support them.

“It’s a carnival we’re hoping we can grow over the next few years; there’s great prize money to be won, and between the two clubs we are covering all grades of horses” Goulburn Club President Dennis Day said.

Following Sunday’s Hewitt Memorial meeting, the racing action moves to Canberra on Monday, January 22 for the $15,300 Canberra Derby and $15,300 Canberra Oaks.  Next will be Goulburn’s Carnival of Cups race day on Sunday, January 28.   This meeting will feature the Group 3 Goulburn Cup, the meeting also includes the $19,080 Goulburn Rose pace, with all other races valued at $10,000.

The summer carnival wraps up on Sunday, February 4, when the Canberra club hosts its main meeting of the year featuring the $25,500 Canberra Cup for C3/6 horses.  Support races include the $10,200 Len Cornock Memorial for the 2-year-old pacers, and the $10,200 Ackie Hawke Memorial.

In keeping with the Crookwell theme, Sunday’s race meeting provides an opportunity for the Crookwell Community Trust charity to raise funds for their very worthy causes.  The Trust distributes aid to people of the Upper Lachlan Shire who have experienced extreme difficulties due to personal trauma and or natural disaster.  The shire includes Gunning, Crookwell, Taralga, Binda, Bigga & Tuena, and each year tens of thousands of dollars are provided to those who have suffered.

With free entry into Sunday’s meeting, Community Trust Members will conduct a major raffle with multiple prizes including weekend accommodation on the South Coast,

Gates to the course will be open from about noon and the club encourages all to come out for a great afternoon of competitive and interesting racing, and to experience the wonderful facilities of the Grace Millson Function Centre.  Enjoy quality food and a wide range of cold alcoholic and soft drinks whilst watching all the racing action in air conditioned comfort.

Goulburn harness racing is brought to fans by the kind support of Tabcorp, Goulburn Soldiers Club, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, Divalls Earthmoving & Bulk Haulage, Goulburn Mazda, ARW Multigroup, Hollingworth Crane Hire, RSM Accountants, and a host of smaller businesses including Top Water Carters Crookwell, First National Real Estate Goulburn, Goulburn Livestock Transport, Goulburn Landmark, J A Communications, Crust Pizza, Glen Mia ACT Saddlery and Ranvet.

Friday’s Goulburn Post will contain all races, form analysis and tips.

For all the latest Goulburn harness racing news visit the club’s website at www.goulburnpaceway.com.au and don’t forget to like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/goulburnpaceway/