ALL SYSTEMS are go for the return of harness racing to Armidale, Peter Munsie says.
The president of the Armidale Harness Racing Club said the committee had been working around the clock to have things ready for Sunday’s comeback meeting.
When the mobile barrier zooms away at around 1.30pm on Sunday, it will mark the first official race at the track since 21 April, 2001.
That meeting was a non-TAB program with just five $1000 races.
For the first time, this Sunday’s meeting will be televised around the country on Sky Racing 2 and will be a TAB event.
“It’s a pretty big deal,” Munsie said.
“There’s been a lot of work put in by everyone and we’re confident it’ll be a great day on Sunday.”
While this Sunday’s meeting has all the focus, due to it being the return of pacing to Armidale, the main event will be the following Sunday.
Armidale has two meetings this season and will race back-to-back Sundays.
The headline races on 30 March will be three $10,000 events – the Armidale Pacing Cup (2360m), the 3YO Golden Horse Shoe (1980m) and the Carnival of Cups Final (1690m).
Munsie said significant work was being done on preparing the track this week.
“I really have to take my hat off to Bernard Shortis and John Enks who have done a power of work on the track,” Munsie said.
“We’ll get the water truck up from Tamworth and do a bit more, but I would be very surprised if they didn’t smash some track records on Sunday.”
