While Sunday’s meeting will see a very interesting six race card, the fixture is the last before the Goulburn and Canberra clubs host their summer racing carnival commencing in January.  The two clubs have programmed a month long carnival of racing in which more than $300,000 of prize money will be distributed.

Commencing at Goulburn with Hewitt Memorial race day on January 14, the $12,000 Hewitt Memorial and $12,000 Walla Walla Stakes will be decided during an afternoon of entertainment which supports the charitable works of the Crookwell Community Trust.  

The action then switches to Canberra on Monday night January 22 when the $15,000 Canberra Derby and Canberra Oaks will be decided.  

Sunday, January 28 will see Goulburn’s premier Carnival of Cups meeting conducted.  Highlighting the program are the $30,000 Group 3 Goulburn Soldiers Club Frank & Edna Day Goulburn Cup and the $18,000 Goulburn Rose Pace.  The day of racing carries more than $100,000 in prize money.  

This season the club is supporting the Goulburn Base Hospital.  Nursing staff will attend the gates to the Goulburn Paceway, and every cent of the $10 gate entry fee will be donated to the hospital.  During the afternoon of entertainment, nursing staff will then pass the hat around and all donations will be greatly appreciated for what is truly an important cause in the Goulburn area.  

The summer carnival then winds up with the Canberra Cup race meeting on Sunday, February 4.  Featuring the $25,000 Canberra Cup, the meeting is supported through the $10,000 Len Cornock Memorial for the 2 year old pacers, and the $10,000 Ackie Hawke Memorial.  

In Sunday’s race meeting, local trainers look well placed to perform strongly.  Crookwell trainer Daniel Rowell will start Roarn in race 4, the Goulburn Mulwaree Council pace, and from barrier 5 looks to have the speed to cross the field and take up the running.

Three starts back at Canberra; Roarn led from the start and demolished a handy field including Recipe For Dreaming who has drawn the 1 gate in Sunday’s race.  With the inclusion of the inform Valla Swan, and the consistent Miracle Smile, Roarn will go to the start at good odds and looks a great each way bet.

In the last of the day, the Goulburn Soldiers Club pace, the Steven Lee trained Uncle Jay will come out of gate 1 and following two starts since a spell looks a strong top 3 contender.  As the winner of a $20,000 Country Series Final last season, Uncle Jay is very well served by the barrier and his two starts this time in have been very promising.

Gates to the Goulburn Paceway will be open from midday, and entry to the course free, 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 prepared by Marcia Grant 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.

For all the latest Goulburn harness racing news like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/goulburnpaceway/ or visit the club’s website at www.goulburnpaceway.com.au