General News
20 July, 2024
Harness push gathers pace
THE campaign for Loddon harness racing clubs to retain two meetings a year has been backed by Murray Plains MP Peter Walsh. Mr Walsh said the Harness Racing Victoria decision to strip one meeting from the Boort and Wedderburn clubs was...
THE campaign for Loddon harness racing clubs to retain two meetings a year has been backed by Murray Plains MP Peter Walsh.
Mr Walsh said the Harness Racing Victoria decision to strip one meeting from the Boort and Wedderburn clubs was “short-sighted stupidity”.
The Nationals leader said he was incredulous that other clubs which escaped the axe had been outperformed by Boort’s summer meeting by crowds and as a tote drawcard.
“In early January, Boort is packed to the gills with holidaymakers and because most people are still on annual Christmas holidays, they are also prepared to make a long-haul trip to experience the charm of a country race meeting,” Mr Walsh said.
“This event puts a massive financial injection into the local economy each year, and for now that opportunity has disappeared.
“At the same time Wedderburn also lost one of its meetings along with St Arnaud, Ouyen, Cohuna and Wangaratta,” Mr Walsh said.
“These tracks were all closed down in 2005 and the Liberals Nationals revived them in 2012– and now the razor gangs are back again.”