The Gunbower Harness Racing Club centenary race meet on Sunday has been declared a success by president Roger Brereton with a large crowd enjoying a big day of country hospitality, nostalgia and fine racing.
The day kicked off with a special luncheon for invited guests, which amongst the large crowd, included chair of Harness Racing Victoria Dale Monteith and author of The Gunbower Harness Racing Club 1924-2024 centenary book Daryl Poxon.
Former Collingwood footballer Mick McGuane and RSN radio host was MC for the day.
Hard working committee member Carol Lloyd was honoured with a life membership to the club after 25 years of selling raffle tickets and taking on any committee job required.
A surprised Carol said the harness club meant everything to her dad Werner Scherubl and this life membership is for him.
“Trotting was everything to dad, he trained horses when he was in Austria and he had a love for anything equine, I have spent a lot of my life involved with the club,” Carol said.
The first ever life membership was given to Denis (Bill) Moriarty in 1950, daughter Veronica proudly wore his badge to the centenary lunch.
“Dad had all the virtues of a good country person and I think that is why he liked the Gunbower Harness Club so much, it always has been a great country club,” Veronica said.
HRV chair Dale Monteith said while he was at the races in an official capacity, the Gunbower club has always held a special place.
“I met Roger six years ago when he asked me to come to the races and I have been coming ever since – our country clubs are full of great people with a passion for harness racing and they certainly put their heart and soul into race day.”
Dale said the centenary is testament to the staying power of the families behind the club.
“There are not too many tracks that have both harness and gallops which is what makes Gunbower quite unique, the setting is just amazing and the history really intrigues me,” Dale said.
On the racing front it was a great day out for Earl of Penbroke trained by Julie Douglas and driven by Jack Laughter after taking out the $14,000 Brereton Family Centenary Pacers Cup over 2630m.
Punters brave enough to back Baxter at 60:1 in the saveourbacon.com Gunbower Centenary Trotters Cup would have left the ground smiling after it was first past the post. Baxter was trained by Brent Lilley and driven by Tristan Larsen.