100 years up for Wyndham Harness Racing Club

A great day is planned when the Wyndham Harness Racing Club celebrate their centennial with a race meeting at Young Quinn Raceway in Wyndham on Saturday (18 March).

The club has a wonderful history since being formed on Friday 23 May 1923. Subsequently, the first Trotting Club meeting, a non-totalisator event was held at the racecourse on Wednesday 7 November 1923. Another meeting followed in 1924 before the club’s inaugural tote meeting took place on Wednesday 18 March 1925.

First Glance won the first Wyndham Trotting Cup in 1925 and despite the club’s 100-year history this year’s running of the Cup will be the 90th edition of the race after it was not held between 1967-1977.

The all weather track was opened with a day of trials and other entertainment on Saturday 21 February 1976 before the first race meeting took place on it on 6 March 1976. It was at that time the name, Young Quinn Raceway, was adopted in tribute to one of Southland’s best pacers.

In the 1988/89 season the club’s name was changed to the Wyndham Harness Racing Club and this weekend the club marks 100 years.

Features on the day include the MLT Centennial Cup plus heats of the Southern Belle Series, Oaks and Supremacy.

A $250 Prezzy Card is up for a grabs’ in the very popular Heads/Tails game while the kids will have plenty to enjoy with bouncy castles, mini jeeps, a lolly scramble, games and competitions and prizes and giveaways.

Racing is due to commence at 12 noon and admission will be free.