Sport
8 November, 2024
Ararat Harness Racing Club five local honours veterans on Remembrance Day
From the Sulky: Remembrance Day racing in Ararat to pay tribute.
THE Ararat Harness Racing Club honours local veterans with a series of races named after them in tribute to their service and sacrifice.
Preparations for Monday's afternoon of harness action at R.T. White Raceway Ararat will stop for a minute's silence at 11am as communities throughout the nation acknowledge all those who died or suffered in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations on the anniversary of the 1918 signing of the Armistice.
The eight-event program will commence at 1.15pm with the Ararat RSL Trotters Handicap.
The Remembrance theme will continue throughout the day as the Ararat HRC pays tribute to Ararat RSL members Rod Lewin (race four), Kev Bowles (five), Eddie McAdie (six), Rod Donaldson (seven), and Lyn Russell (eight).
Ararat Harness Racing Club secretary Mark Percival said the meet would honour the local men and women who served their country.
"We wanted to be able to celebrate the services of our local veterans," he said.
"We wanted to recognise the service the people in the community have made to the country, regardless of the theatre of war they served in."
Percival said the club was able to secure a race meet on Remembrance Day this year, and future meets will be as close to the date as possible.
"We've been lucky enough to partner with the Ararat RSL, who have provided the names of the people to pay tribute to at the meeting," he said.
"Some of the people were are paying tribute to and their families will come along on Monday. We wanted to recognise their contributions and honour their service."
Bibby's blistering pace
Deep Lead horsewoman Marnie Bibby's small team have hit a purple patch of late, recording four wins and two pacings from their last seven outings and in the money nine of the last 10.
Bibby started the winning streak three weeks ago with Emjaybee at Bendigo, followed up with Swiss Lightning at Horsham and combined with regular driver Luke Dunne for a winning double at Mt Gambier on Tuesday night with Starzinglhereyes and Swiss Lightning.
Starzinhereyes broke through for her first victory from outings since joining the Bibby camp, after a frustrating run of ten minor placings.
Stable stalwart, seven-year-old gelding Virginia Lightning took its record to ten wins, minors and a bank of $65,000 from starts with Tuesday's victory at Mount Gambier.
Seventh time's a charm
Ararat trainer Ross Fiscalini combined with driver Jackie Barker to take out the 2YO Pace at Maryborough on Wednesday with Yawoma, a gelded son of A Rocknroll Dance.
The youngster had been knocking on the door of late with minor placings at Ararat and Melton and scored the much-deserved win at its seventh career start.
Yawoma was bred by Tent Fiscalini and Leroy O'Brien from their former racemare Dublin Street.
Marvellous Manning
Great Western horsewoman Kerryn Manning also notched up a stable victory at Maryborough with the lightly raced, 4yo mare Al Sedhai.
The trotter won a race at Geelong last season when in the care of Andy Gath for six starts and was having her fourth outing in the Manning colours.
Al Sedhai is out of the unraced mare Vari Poetic, a daughter of the unraced, pacing bred mare Poetry, in turn the dam of champion squaregaiter, La Coocaracha (23 wins) which has thrown a string off classy trotters including Dance Craze (24 wins) and The Locomotive (17 wins).
They're off @ St. Arnaud (D) "Cup Meeting" Sunday 10th November; Ararat (D) Monday 11th; Charlton (D) Wednesday 13th & Monday 18th; Mt. Gambier (N) Tuesday 19th; (N) Sunday 24th & Stawell (T) "Cups Meeting" Sunday 1st December.