DON Inwood has been remembered as someone who was always willing to take on any job to help the Wagga Harness Racing Club.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The life member of the club and long-time committee member lost his short battle with cancer last Wednesday.
He was 76.
Being a judge was one of the many tasks Inwood helped with at the club after first becoming a member in the 1970s.
Whether it was judging, doing bar work or helping with maintenance, Kevin Wheatley admired his dedication.
"He was always there to put his hand up when anything needed to be done, especially anything regarding the tractors," Wheatley said.
"He was always available for anything even though they lived out of town he was quite happy to come in."
Wagga will hold a race in ihs honour on Monday while drivers wore black armbands on Friday when racing against Inwood's Ultimate Risk, who finished third.
He is survived by his wife Linda, who was a long-serving president of the club, children Douglas and Georgina and four grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at a later date due to coronavirus restrictions.
****
RUBIES For Tash is headed towards the revamped Wagga Pacers Cup next month.
Bruce Harpley's mare made amends for a disappointing effort to make it two wins in her last three starts.
A ratings 90 pacer, Rubies For Tash is at limit for the feature on May 24.
The Wagga Pacers Cup has undergone another change with the prizemoney now down to $9000, after originally being halved to $15,000, to help assist with the addition of an extra meeting for the region.
Harpley was pleased to see her back to her best on Friday.
"It's a hard one to put your finger on," Harpley said.
"She doesn't give you any indication and always goes home and eats everything but when she switches off man does she switch off."
It was her 17th career win, and fourth this season.
Harpley expects she will be moved to Menangle after the Cup to chase more opportunities over the mile.
"We won't do it until after that (Cup) at least anyway," he said.
"She could go down there a bit sooner but while there is a few races and she keeps getting a run around that 90 with a mares or junior claim she will stay, but has to go down there eventually."
Harpley also has Delightful Jackie on the path for the group one Regional Championship next week.
The mare has won her last two starts and after an injury-forced lay-off Harpley expects she will continue to improve.
"There is a lot of improvement still in her but I wasn't overly concerned until we go to the better races," he said.
****
HOWS The Memory set a new career best time at Menangle on Saturday.
Already a group two winner this season, the Wagga bred and owned mare clocked a mile rate of 1:50.1 to take out a mares race.
It was her 14th career win, with five coming this season.
****
FORMER Riverina reinsman Paul Diebert brought up the first century of his career at Albion Park on Saturday.
After winning his first group one last season, the 25-year-old overcame a long stint in the nervous 90s to bring up the milestone with Kurahaupo Gambler.
He is currently fourth in the Queensland premiership, 29 wins behind Nathan Dawson
****
RESTRICTIONS on trials have been decreased with a growing number of horses receiving ballots during the coronavirus crisis.
Conditions had been in place limiting trials to horses looking to qualify or requalify and those who had not raced in more than three months could trial once.
As of Monday all horses can now trial but clubs must follow the COVID-19 protocols.
****
WAGGA will hold an eight-race card on Saturday.
There were 199 nominations for the meeting as numbers of horses looking to race continue to surge.
More than half of those were balloted due to the coronavirus restrictions.
The first race is at 5pm.
Wagga will also race on Monday with the meeting added to the program after Riverina clubs pooled their resources to ensure more opportunities.
Nominations for the restricted meeting close at 9.30am on Thursday.
