Taken Monday October 21 at the track.
The Harden Picnic Race Committee and the twin towns of Harden-Murrumburrah will be holding the 39th annual Picnic Race Meeting at the Haden Racecourse this Saturday. Punters and spectators will be greeted by a forecast temperature of 20 degrees and a 6 race card. Next year the 40th event to be held during October 2020 will see spectators greeted with a brand new function facility and amenities building worth close to $1 million. Construction on the building will commence after Saturday’s race meeting.
The grant for the amenities upgrade was announced at last year’s Harden Kite Festival and was awarded under the Stronger Country Communities Fund.
The new building will replace the current green coloured bar and bbq area and provide a new bar and kitchen facility, toilet area and room for 300 people to be seated for functions as well as provide plenty of room when the racecourse is used during the Picnic Races, Harden Kite Festival, Harden Rodeo and for Polocrosse tournaments throughout the year.
Harden President Nathan Schofield is looking forward to the building being completed. He has been President for the last 3 years and on the committee for the last 5 years. He said, “I’m a horse enthusiast myself.”
“It will have a verandah on the east west and northern sides. The champagne bar will go and it should join in nicely with the hill. We will smooth the old hill over to make it better for our marquees and it will tie in nicely with the new building.”
The new building will house 6 new female toilets as wells a disabled toilet, baby changing room and 3 urinals and 4 male toilets. The kitchen will house a cool room, bar and cookers as well as 3 serving windows. The western and eastern verandahs will be 3 metres wide while the northern verandah will be 4 metres wide. The length of the building is just over 36 metres.
Nathan is hoping that the perfect weather will draw a large crowd to the family day at Harden on Saturday.
The feature race is the Graymont and Nathan Schofield Harden Picnic Cup.
He said, “It’s a six race card and we have plenty of things for the kids, with a jumping castle and attractions, food stalls including burgers and wood fired pizzas, coffee van and ice cream man. We have full bar facilities and 2 atms. Alcohol tickets will be sold for people to purchase their drinks. Tickets are $2.50 each with 2 needed for a beer and 3 for a spirit.”
The Race committee has sold 25 sites to those wanting a marquees or a tent site and the hill looks set to be packed.
Nathan said, “It’s a great family day out and a lot of businesses have a good get together for friends and family.”
Chad Croker will be entertaining the crowd with some live music and some DJing up until 7:30pm.
Don’t miss a great day out this Saturday at Harden and don’t miss next year’s 40 year celebration and the unveiling of the new facility.
