Last weekend's official opening of the Bathurst Paceway was heralded as the beginning of a new era for harness racing in that part of the state.

That may very well be the case for Bathurst but there is still a great deal of uncertainty for what the future holds in areas such as Parkes and Dubbo.

Then just as things were off and running at the new Bathurst precinct a concerning hiccup raised its ugly head.

Problems with the racing surface on the recently laid track caused the abandonment of Wednesday night's TAB meeting, sending both the Bathurst Harness Racing Club and Harness Racing New South Wales into damage control.

It was apparent there was a problem unfolding last Sunday as, race after race a procession of officials almost wore a goat trail down into the surface of the home straight and sprint lane which from an observer's point of view was quite alarming.

But to their credit, the Bathurst Club executive admitted that there was a problem and are currently working hard to rectify the problem.

And to the credit of Harness Racing New South Wales officials, they held nominations up for the Parkes meeting to give trainers the option of rescheduling their plans and race here.

Unfortunately that sent out a scary message for the local club with Bathurst trainers virtually snubbing their nose at the gesture with very few taking the opportunity afforded them.

On the positive side, it appears that the horse population and those trainers who are happy to race at Parkes is on the way up as the seven races programmed have healthy numbers engaged.

Racing gets underway at 6.57pm with the Pepper Tree Farm Pace (2040m) and ironically the on top selection is a Bathurst trained horse.

Kapow Shannon (Peter Bullock) appears to have an affinity with the Parkes track as three of his seven career wins have been here.

He was impressive in winning a heat of Eugowra's Canola Cup and he has been freshened since finishing sixth in the final.

From barrier one tomorrow night, the four year old will be where he likes it, right in the firing line.

His danger is Forbes pacer Always Over (Murray Sullivan) who was most impressive winning here a fortnight ago.

Murray Sullivan has a good book of five drives and his best chance of winning comes up in the Betta Home Living Parkes & Forbes Competitive Stakes (1660m) in the shape of Loch Lochy.

He was impressive in winning first up at Dubbo last weekend and when he is on his game, he is a very smart.

Recent local winners Saint Dal Santo (Nathan Hurst) and Imposing Sign (Andrew Lincoln) appear to be the main threats.

Sullivan has the choice of two drives in the Morley Park Pace (2040m), namely I Surf and Montana Maestro which are both trained by his cousin Jason Gaffney.

And on paper the pair look set to fight out the race.

I Surf hasn't raced since June but he was impressive in winning at Peak Hill when last in work and he would only need to be somewhere near his best to score again.

Montana Maestro won here on October 11 and then acquitted himself well in a hot field at Bathurst last Sunday when he worked hard and held on to run fifth.

Local mare Bellas Charm (Andrew Ward) will be sitting off the pace from barrier one and could have the last shot at the stablemates.

Pat Jones from Eugowra has two runners engaged in the meeting and both have strong chances with local electrical salesman Steve Dowton in the gig.

Miss Negativity has been out of form since she scored a strong win here back in September but she will find the K & H Earthmoving & Haulage Pace (2040m) more to her liking.

What I Mean To Say will contest the Parkes Leagues Club Pace (2040m) and the ultra consistent pacer will be right in the finish.

Get Around Me (Murray Sullivan) ran out of her skin at Bathurst's feature meeting last week, finishing second after having a hard run.

She is raced by a popular group of Forbes enthusiasts and a win in the AG Souter Pace (2040m) would give the syndicate a real boost.

Her danger is the Eugowra owned and trained Lexys On Fire (Ken Sharp and David Harris) which has put together two solid efforts at Parkes (fourth) and Dubbo (second) in recent weeks.

The Graham Betts trained Shes A Dexter has been placed third at Bathurst and Penrith of late and she will be hard to beat from barrier three in the Parkes Farm Centre 3yo Pace (1660m).

An auction of stallion services donated to the Parkes Club for fund raising will be conducted tomorrow night.

Selections

Race 1: 1.Kapow Shannon 2.Always Over 3.Lucky Laag

Race 2: 1.Loch Lochy 2.Saint Dal Santo 3.Imposing Sign

Race 3: 1.I Surf 2.Montana Maestro 3.Bellas Charm

Race 4: 1.Miss Negativity 2.The Nuts 3.Heavenly Tooth

Race 5: 1.What I Mean To Say 2.Tulhurst Tully 3.Karinya Mully

Race 6: 1.Shes A Dexter 2.Beau Studleigh 3.Lily Rapido 

Race 7: 1.Get Around Me 2.Lexys On Fire 3.Benditlikebetty