Racing to resume in Oakbank after COVID-19 shutdown
A weed infestation at a country SA racecourse is very good news for Oakbank.
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Horse racing is set for an early return to Oakbank.
Oakbank Racing Club has announced it will host a race meet on Sunday, September 13, on top of its annual twilight meet in December.
The September event, originally planned to be run in Mount Gambier, was one of several meetings rescheduled because of a weed infestation at the South East track.
Oakbank Racing Club chairwoman Arabella Branson said Mount Gambier’s loss was her club’s gain.
“I think it will be popular among locals who will find it a good opportunity to catch up after all the COVID issues,” she said.
“However, it will be fairly low key as obviously there will be the Balaklava cup on the following Wednesday.
“We’ll have around eight races or so and there won’t be any feature classes as such, but I think most of the locals won’t care.
“It’s more about having fun and welcoming back the community.”
Ms Branson said the race would help recoup some of the revenue lost as a result of COVID-19 – funds which would have gone towards vital upgrades of facilities.
The club was forced to cancel its signature Easter Carnival, which was originally scheduled to go ahead without spectators.
“Obviously it was really devastating that we had to cancel the carnival but we were slightly fortunate in that we had built up a (financial) reserve to cover upgrades and renovations of our heritage grandstand and buildings,” Ms Branson said.
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“While we did have those reserves, it did mean that we had to dig into these and, as such, delay any of the renovations and upgrades, which would have been nice to have featured for next year’s (Easter) carnival.
“But because of COVID, that’s no longer going to happen.
“But at least we’re still racing and financially sound and will manage those upgrades over the next few years instead.”