Mount Gambier Racing Club’s inability to host races at the start of the 2021-22 season has been Penola’s gain and the track surrounded by vineyards is ready for tomorrow’s Summer Race Day.
There will be a sense of what could have been in the thoroughbred community as this particular race meeting was supposed to be the return of the famous Mount Gambier Gold Cup.
However, the Mount Gambier Racing Club announced in October its venue, Glenburnie Raceway, was not fit for racing and needed extra time to mature in order to host meetings in the long term.
Therefore, the Gold Cup was postponed to April, while the Penola and Bordertown filled the void in the first half of the season.
Despite being dealt with the extra burden of hosting some events originally being scheduled for Glenburnie Raceway, Penola Racing Club secretary Belinda Holland said nothing has been overwhelmed and the track is primed for action.
“It is a transferred meeting from Mount Gambier because it was meant to be Mount Gambier Cup day,” she said.
“Obviously we would have liked to have racing back at the Mount, but we are just trying to keep the races down here in the Limestone Coast, so we have taken on extra race meetings in the last couple of years.
“We have a good team and committee that maintains the track and with this type of weather we have to put some irrigation on.
“It has also been re mowed, so it is in tip-top condition.”
Tomorrow will be the second race held at Penola with big crowds back in the stands, while those who cannot make it can follow the action on TAB.
Back in October the venue hosted the Kalangadoo Cup, but was forced to turn away all spectators as it fell just after the COVID-19 scare in Mount Gambier.
Crowds were welcomed back to Penola for its last race meeting on Sunday, November 7, while many spectating options including dining packages are available tomorrow.
Racing SA also recently announced all personnel in the industry must receive their first COVID jab before Monday, December 20.
The announcement means jockeys, trainers, owners etcetera have less than a month to get jabbed, while they need to be fully vaccinated before Monday.
January 20 2022 to attend race meetings.
It should be a lovely afternoon at the races with comfortable temperatures and sunny skies forecast for the eight races scheduled to begin from 11.30am.
