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Two of the region’s long-standing harness-racing trainers are more than ready to see the new track open in Wagga.
Trainer and driver Norm Diebert Snr has been racing at the current track for the past 50 years and has won his fair share of races including Wagga Cups.
“I remember the standing starts we did back then,” he said.
“If you lead from the start you were good chance to win.
“The current track served a purpose for the times but has become a bit too small now.
“The new track will give everyone a better chance of backing a winner.
“The bigger track is easier on them and gives the drivers more room for the wider gigs they use today.”
Mr Diebert said there had been trainers move to Wagga to be closer to “the action.”
“It’s a marvelous thing for Wagga,” he said.
Bernie Kelly is another trainer and driver who had many wins at the showground and can remember the “glory days” of the sport.
“I can remember back to when they used to race mainly Friday nights and we had huge crowds and 25 to 30 bookmakers,” Mr Kelly said.
“It was a lot better with the bigger crowds, not many people go now but I hope we get a few more back with the new track.
“It’s good for the future of harness racing.”
This strong future is not only thanks to the impressive new facility but also the strong history which has been made in Wagga over the past 65 years.
Race commentator Allan Hull has been calling the races for the past 48 years after being appointed in 1970.
Since then he has called tens of thousands of races and has seen all the big changes in the sport first hand.
“When I first started it was called the Wagga Wagga Show Society Night Trotting Control Board,” Mr Hull said.
“In the old days harness racing clubs were shoots off the show society.”
Over the years he called from three or four different locations in the showgrounds including a small box in the middle of the grandstand.
The biggest change Mr Hull can remember was the introduction of TAB and Sky Racing which meant people could bet from anywhere on races he was calling.
“It promoted the sport to greater heights but it was at the detriment of people not going to the races,” he said.
“You used to have to get there early to get a good spot.”
One of the more memorable nights for Mr Hull was the race between Hondo Grattan and Paleface Adios which was called by the legendary harness race caller the late Ray Conroy.
“In the olden days we'd have legendary horses in free-for-all and open-class races every week,” Mr Hull said.