Harness Racing moves to the grass at Towac Park

The Orange Harness Racing Club is moving its races to the grass track at Towac Park.

The move has been welcomed by the sport's state-wide administrative body, Harness Racing NSW and supported by Orange City Council. The first two meetings will be held Feb 5 and Feb 12.

• At Towac Park, races will be held on the longer grass track. Races will be run ‘right-handed’ (in contrast to ‘left-handed’ direction that’s more common in NSW to use existing infrastructure).

• Instead of a number of circuits of a shorter track, it’s expected horses will use the mobile starting gates starting in the home straight for the 2100 m races and completing one circuit after passing the winning post.

• The dates for the first two race meetings have been set. Sunday 5 February for a preliminary TAB meeting and then Sunday 12 February for a TAB ‘Carnival of Cups’ meeting.

• New Zealand race caller Mark McNamara has agreed to call the races on the day.

• Orange City Council has supported the club’s change of location with an annual $20,000 grant.