We're hot to trot again at the Warwick Showgrounds
AFTER 18 years, trotting returns to the Warwick Show as part of a night program.
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HARNESS RACING: After a gap of 18 years, trotting will return to the Warwick Show on Friday, March 22.
Darling Downs Harness Racing Club president Anthony Collins said there would be three heats on the half hour from 5pm.
"We will start five horses in each heat,” he said. "I am confident we will have full fields.”
The top five will then compete in the final at 7pm Friday.
The Ray Bunch Machinery Cantor Cup will be up for grabs in the final.
Collins said the Cantor Cup was contested at the show many years ago.
"Joe Cantor had a drapery shop in Warwick at the time,” he said.
"Ray Bunch has put up all the prizemoney for the trotting.
"Up to the 1960s, they had regular trots at the Warwick Showgrounds.”
Each of the heats will be contested over 1600m, three and a half laps of the Warwick Showgrounds.
The heats will be between other events in the main arena on the Friday evening of the show.
The trotting will be inside the main outside fence of the arena so part of each heat will be on the section of sand used for campdraft, timed and rough stock events at the Warwick Rodeo.
Collins said the surface at the showgrounds was good for trotting.
"We will roll the track for the three heats and final,” he said.
"Show chairman John Maher has been a great supporter of the move to have trots at the Warwick Show.”
Nominations will close on Wednesday.
There are six harness racing trainers in Warwick who are expected to nominate horses.
The Weidemann family from Clifton is likely to have a starter.
There has been interest in the show trotting from owners at Gatton and Marburg as well as the New England area of New South Wales.
There will be no betting on the trotting and Warwick Turf Club volunteer Garry Adcock will call each of the races.
The Darling Downs club also organises trotting at the Toowoomba Show and will have a trotting meeting later this year on the grass track at Allman Park.
The last trotting at Allman Park was in late 2017.
There will be many horse events at the Warwick Show, including ring events, showjumping and a Saturday night rodeo.
Friday, March 22, is a public holiday in Warwick for the show.
Originally published as We're hot to trot again at the Warwick Showgrounds
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