West Wyalong are determined not to have another cup meeting behind closed doors.
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The club held two editions of their cup last year, the first at Riverina Paceway, before a second without the public on their own track.
However secretary Rodney Crowe has revealed plans to allow fully vaccinated patrons on course of their feature meeting next Friday.
While this Friday's meeting will be only for participants, Crowe hopes the easing on restrictions will allow the club to have a proper showcase.
"We're having no general public to the trots this Friday but we're hoping to have a crowd next week for our club," Crowe said.
The club has to get their COVIDSafe Segregation Plan authorised by Harness Racing NSW before crowds are able to return.
It ensures participants and the general public can remain separate but no Riverina club is yet to implement one.
West Wyalong have been making plenty of improvements to their facility after earning more than $350,000 in grant money.
They've already installed a new outside fence, have made upgrades to the raceday stalls, upgraded the marshalling area including the removal of shed.
Crowe believes it has already improved participant safety.
"We've done a heap of work but we're only about half way through," Crowe said.
West Wyalong have traditionally raced on Sundays however they've been allocated two Friday meetings this month.
Crowe was confident it would be a popular timeslot before the latest lockdown.
He hopes it will be well-received by the community.
"I think it would have been great if COVID had not been about," Crowe said.
"We usually always draw a good crowd for the Sunday meetings so we felt having a Friday with daylight savings would work.
"It should work turnover wise so it will be very interesting to see."
While Friday's eight-race card is restricted to Riverina participants, Crowe expects plenty of visitors will be attracted to the prizemoney on offer for their cup meeting next week.
"I believe they're opening the regions on Saturday and from what we're programming it should be a cracker," he said.
"The Western Districts (participants) will be able to come and just the prizemoney we've got for a club that doesn't race a lot I think it is very good."
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REGIONAL racing restrictions will be removed on Saturday.
With the state reaching 80 per cent double vaccination, Harness Racing NSW have confirmed the policy will be removed on Saturday.
However trainers are still required to nominate a representative to act on their behalf or a stablehand to accompany them on Harnessweb.
There have also been changes to the rules around face masks.
Face masks will now be required to be worn in the stewards rooms, in the swab stalls and in driver's change rooms.
Participants no longer have to provide a negative COVID test to HRNSW before attending a meeting, trial or public training facility in the Greater Sydney area.
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DAVID Kennedy has come up with some handy draws in the NSW Breeders Challenge semi-finals at Menangle on Saturday.
Both A Perfect Dance and Arties Dime are set to start from barrier three in their respective three-year-old fillies semi-finals.
Stablemate Brados Lad will start from barrier four in his NSW Breeders Challenge semi-final while
After a second in his heat at Wagga last week, Hell of A Memory has drawn barrier five for Peter Birks in the second semi-final with Hy Voltage drawn nine.
About To Peak has drawn seven for Stephen Maguire in the first fillies semi-final while Machs Legacy (three), heat winner Headturner (five) and Gracie Taltoa (nine) are in the second semi.
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JACKSON Painting added to his lead in the Southwest and Riverina driver's premiership courtesy of a double at Young.
Painting had success with both All Good and Couldnt Recommend able to lead all of the way.
He now leads Blake Jones by 9.5 wins, with just over two months left in the season.
Both victories were for his uncle David Kennedy, who now leads Ellen Bartley by 22.5 wins in the trainer's premiership.
It comes after the pair had three winners at Wagga on Friday.
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B K SWY added to her strong run of form in Australia with another win at Menangle on Saturday night.
The Leeton-owned mare made it two wins on the trot, and four of her last six, as she clocked a mile rate of 1:52.9.
B K Swy has drawn barrier seven in Saturday's open mares feature.
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PERSEVERANCE paid off for a large group of Wagga owners on Saturday night.
Twentyeightblack was able to breakthrough for a win at Albion Park.
After being placed in five of his last six starts, Twentyeightblack was able to lead all the way to bring up his 17th career victory.
It was his third win since leaving the Riverina.
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THE Wolf added to her strong formlines with another win at Menangle on Tuesday.
Owned by Michael Boots, the three-year-old filly made it three wins, three seconds and a third from 11 starts as she clocked a career best mile rate of 1:53.6 for trainer-driver Jason Grimson.
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DAVID Druitt tasted success as an owner at Bankstown on Monday.
Heavenly Wisdom was able to bring up her fifth career win for Cameron Ross.
It took the five-year-old 24 starts to win her first race.
Her win at Temora in January was her seventh start for the Brucedale trainer.
Heavenly Wisdom has had her last four starts in Sydney.
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FOR the first time since June Wagga will not race on Friday.
Instead harness racing returns to West Wyalong for the prelude to their Carnival of Cups meeting.
Among the eight races are three heats for horses with no more than three lifetime wins.
The first race is at 1.18pm.
Leeton races on Tuesday.