After spending last year at Echuca due to the floods, locals attended in droves for Gunbower Harness Racing Club’s premier race day, which had some thrilling action over the course of the nine-race card on Sunday, including the two feature races of the day.
The Bill Poxon Memorial Trotters Cup was the first of those and it was a Kyabram trainer who took out the share of the $12,000 country cup in race six.
Mick Blackmore’s Bitta Irish Luck needed none of it as Ellen Tormey drove a stellar race, guiding the talented five-year-old to its sixth win and second of the season.
Coming off the front row, the duo was rarely tested over the 2630m, and it’s the second time Blackmore has tasted success in the trotters cup race after also saluting in 2011 with My Mate Claudy.
In the Gunbower Hotel Pacing Cup, Red Cliff trainer Andrew German’s All Da Rage was a half-a-neck winner in the feature race, with reinsman Alex Ashwood delivering German his fourth winner as a trainer.
German also made his return to the winner’s circle at Gunbower after tasting victory as an owner in the same race in 2017.
It rounded out an excellent day of on-track action, while off it the club held various activities such as the famed Gumboot Throw.
But the theme of the day was a tribute as the club and community paused to remember life member Elaine Brereton, who recently died.
Brereton’s influence on Gunbower sport and, indeed, its community was widely felt, her extensive contributions also earning her life member status at the Gunbower Tennis Club, Gunbower Football Netball Club, and the Murray Valley Jersey Club.
The club will now look ahead to its 100th anniversary meeting on Sunday, February 18, celebrating with a book release and dinner.
