Charlton Harness Racing Club open new training complex
The Charlton Harness Racing Club officially opened its new Harness Racing Training Complex on March 29th. The facility, located on 12 hectares of land adjoining the Club’s existing Training Track, has been jointly funded and developed by the State Government, Rural Development Victoria, the Buloke Shire, HRV and the Charlton Harness Racing Club. A key partner in the Project was the Dja Dja Wurrung Native Title Group, who gave agreement for the Facility to be established on their traditional Aboriginal lands. The Charlton Club has also been heavily involved in the planning, finance and construction of the Complex, providing financial resource from their own reserves and actively doing a number of key construction tasks themselves. Attending the Official Opening were elders, representatives and descendents of the Dja Dja Wurrung People, The Hon. John Forrest – Federal Member For Mallee, Cr. David Pollard – Mayor Of The Buloke Shire, Mr. Rob Jardine from Rural Development Victoria, Mr. Rob Pongho from Harness Racing Victoria and representatives from the Charlton Harness Racing Club. The Official Opening of the new Training Facility included the unveiling of a Commemorative Sign at the Training Facility, as well as a Commemorative Plaque at the main Charlton Track Entrance that detailed the contribution and historical significance of the Facility’s land for the Dja Dja Wurrung Tribe. The Training Complex itself currently houses three individual stabling complexes, with the capacity to be expanded to ten. Each stabling complex consists of a fully serviced 60 x 30 shed, complete with lock-up harness and feed areas, internal yoke up and wash areas, two internal boxes and eight adjoining day yards. Being located on the existing Training Track facility, prospective tenants will also have unrestricted use of the 820 metre Training Track, 2,000 metre Straight Track and Swimming Dam on site. The Complex is also located only a short distance from Charlton’s Main Racetrack, to which trainers have open use.
Club President, Mr. John Tormey, highlighted that a further attraction to potential tenants should be that there are no less than eleven harness tracks located within 120 km of Charlton, hosting a total of 148 race meetings per annum. The racing opportunities in the area are therefore immense. Furthermore, there are ample housing and employment opportunities available in the township. “With only a Bond and nominal monthly rental required, we hope the package will be truly attractive to potential tenants”, he said. The idea behind the Complex developed from a desire to increase harness participation and horse numbers within the town by attracting new trainers. In particular, it is hoped that the Complex will provide a low-cost entry point for new trainers seeking to enter harness racing, be an option for existing trainers who may be struggling to meet costs at their current locations, or provide improved opportunities for trainers struggling to win races at larger provincial venues. The Complex may also provide a low-cost option for trainers wishing to relocate from interstate, or create a satellite stable in the area. Mr. Tormey also envisages the Complex providing flow-on benefits to the local economy by boosting population, economic activity and employment opportunities. “Rather than simply stand by and have things drift along, the Club was determined to be pro-active and do what we could at a Club Level to assist the development and future of our sport,”. Mr. Tormey said. Any persons interested in finding out more details or inspecting the facilities should contact the Club President, Mr. John Tormey, at [email protected] or phone 0419 397996.
Club President, Mr. John Tormey, highlighted that a further attraction to potential tenants should be that there are no less than eleven harness tracks located within 120 km of Charlton, hosting a total of 148 race meetings per annum. The racing opportunities in the area are therefore immense. Furthermore, there are ample housing and employment opportunities available in the township. “With only a Bond and nominal monthly rental required, we hope the package will be truly attractive to potential tenants”, he said. The idea behind the Complex developed from a desire to increase harness participation and horse numbers within the town by attracting new trainers. In particular, it is hoped that the Complex will provide a low-cost entry point for new trainers seeking to enter harness racing, be an option for existing trainers who may be struggling to meet costs at their current locations, or provide improved opportunities for trainers struggling to win races at larger provincial venues. The Complex may also provide a low-cost option for trainers wishing to relocate from interstate, or create a satellite stable in the area. Mr. Tormey also envisages the Complex providing flow-on benefits to the local economy by boosting population, economic activity and employment opportunities. “Rather than simply stand by and have things drift along, the Club was determined to be pro-active and do what we could at a Club Level to assist the development and future of our sport,”. Mr. Tormey said. Any persons interested in finding out more details or inspecting the facilities should contact the Club President, Mr. John Tormey, at [email protected] or phone 0419 397996.
