The tough new alcohol rules regulations and bad weather was not to deter the 1500 people who made it to the Harden Racecourse for this year’s Harden Picnic Races.
Saturday morning did not start out all that favourable with a cold snap and the wind blowing in a hail storm. But with so much preparation going into the event by the hardworking organisers the races went ahead as scheduled.
The outdoor heater at the bar area proved to be a very popular spot as did any place that offered shelter from the constant wind and intermittent showers.
A quick estimate taken from the amount of people gathered along the fences to watch the races had the crowds down to about a third of previous year’s attendance numbers.
With the closure of pubs and other accommodation houses the weekend was not the same prosperous event that it has been for the town in previous years.
A number of bus groups that would normally make their way to Harden had apparently headed elsewhere due to the changes in the oncourse alcohol rules and the fact that the pubs and clubs in the twin towns would be closing early.
Horse trainer, Chris “Fonz” Heywood from Gloaming Racing Stables did manage to secure two wins with Vepete crossing the line first in Race 2, a 1000m handicap race sponsored by the grandchildren of the late Jim Tess Irving. Vepete is owned by a syndicate of local owners, Chris Ward, Chris McIntosh, Mick Spackman and Chris Heywood.
The weather turned very nasty for the running of the main race of the day, the 1400m Minehan and Shea Carpentry Harden Picnic Cup. But the weather was not to deter Jockey Robert Anderson from bringing home the favourite Spirited Choice six lengths clear of the opposition giving Gloaming Racing Stables their second win for the day and a win for a very delighted Robyn Smith from the Mobil garage in Harden.
Not long after the last race of the day the course was empty with punters scurrying to beat the 6.30pm curfew in the warmer climes of a hotel in town.
No major incidents were recorded at the races with police commenting that the crowds were well behaved. Police did detect three juvenile’s consuming alcohol at the event, two sixteen year old’s from the ACT were issued with warnings and a 17 year old male from Harden was issued with an infringement notice after he was detected consuming alcohol in an authorised area.
The after races party at the Mechanics Institute failed to attract the numbers needed to warrant the limit of 350 people put in place with only an estimated 150 people turning up to dance the night away.
Many punters are hoping that Harden will be given a fair crack of the whip by the Licensing Sergeant next year to allow the races to return to their former prosperous glory and proceed like other Picnic Races in the district that have run with full strength alcohol for many years.
President of the Harden Picnic Races Committee Jack Whybrow said, “it was a great day with a lot of brave punters turning up for the event. We had good fields and some great prize money on offer, it’s a shame the regulations are making it harder and harder. The whole idea of the show was to benefit the town”.
Jack said he wanted to thank the Harden Shire for their assistance and all of the sponsors who helped to make the event possible, “We couldn’t do it without them and we look forward to a great year next year”, Jack said.
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