The biggest change in the history of harness racing in Wagga is about to unfold.

Since the 1950s the Wagga Harness Racing Club has been based at the showgrounds on Urana Street but they are about to race for the last time at this historical location. 

The club was formed in the early 1950s with the first race held on December 18 1953. 

The track has seen all the major changes within harness racing happen over the past 65 years from the transition from standing starts to mobile starts and the introduction of TAB and Sky Racing.

A race meet in the 1950s was something of a spectacle compared to today’s meets. To see harness racing or greyhounds patrons would have to attend so the track was often full of people.

The advent of TAB and Sky Racing broadcasting the races meant people were able to watch and bet form home, hotels or clubs.

The introduction of TAB also saw racing move from Friday and Saturday nights to any night of the week.

The club currently hosts 35 meetings a year, the most of any club in the south west Riverina, and will continue to do so at the new track at Cartwrights Hill.

With the last race set for December 22 the club is thrilled to be moving forward but are also grateful of the history they have made at the Wagga Showgrounds alongside the other seven user groups. 

“A lot of history goes with racing at the showground,” Wagga Harness Racing Club chief executive officer Graeme White said.

“Some of the biggest names in the harness racing industry have won races here.

“Many of the best horses in Australia have raced in this region and at the Wagga track.

“We need to keep with the times and we need to have our own facility that is purpose built for harness racing.”

The current track was built in the early to mid 1990s with the original development having to deal with the restrictive nature of the location with the railway line and existing buildings. 

The track is 800 metres in circumference allowing for six horses to start off the front line and four off the back. The new track is 1070 metres in circumference and will allow for eight horses to start off the front line and four off the back. This increase in size will allow for fields to go from 10 horses to 12. 

“One of the features of racing in the old days were the standing-start races, champions use to come from way back and round up the field and win,” Mr White said.

“The original track at the showgrounds was very small and allowed drivers to take advantage if they were on a leader. The current track is more open to horses finishing off from further back in the field and the new track will be bigger again and open up more opportunities.”