Harness racing returns to Parkes on Sunday afternoon, and in some fantastic news, the Parkes Harness Racing Club is finally allowed to have patrons back on course.
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Sunday is a NSW Standardbred Owners Association (NSW SOA) bonus meeting, where four races have a bonus of $2,000 for the winner (that will go towards the purchase of a yearling at the 2021 Australian Pacing Gold yearling sales), while each entrant will receive a $100 cash bonus.
The first two races for the day both have the bonus attached, and are maidens that feature seven Parkes trained runners in a strong sign for the local industry.
Cowra's Shannon Rye has Uroc n Warrior racing in the first, and will be looking to break the maiden in the gelding's 23rd start while at the other end of the spectrum father-daughter duo Darryle and Laura Rusten have a Sportswriter filly, Juz Butter, in her first race start after 14 trials.
In the second maiden for the day, Grenfell's Mark Hewitt will be hoping Maudies Delight can return strongly from a long spell, though Fast Eddy and Lady Pebbles will be pushing for the win after a string of second placings.
It looks to be a dartboard job in the TAB Odds and Evens Pace, though Parkes trainer Brett Hutchings will be hoping Princess Angel can repeat the performance from her June 21 run when first in a Garrards Ironhorse Pace.
Forbes trainer Gary Eyre will be looking to go one better in the Parkes Leagues Club Pace with Karinya Jude after six minor placings from her past nine starts, but the pressure will be fierce from a number of Turnbull runners.
The Col Fletcher Ford Pace might not have a last start winner, but there are plenty of runners with good form lines, headlined by Hewitt's Mighty Joe - who loves the Parkes track and has recorded two wins here since July.
Closing out the day, the Terry Brothers Pace sees a red-hot field assembled for horses with a National Rating up to 80 - and Hutchings has Cankickatarget on the quick back-up after racing in Bathurst on Wednesday, though it has been awhile between wins for the gelding who will start on the extreme outside of the second row.
Steve Turnbull's Myra Dawn makes the jump in class after winning in West Wyalong last Sunday while So Much Bettor travels up from Young for Glenn Schiller after wins in Junee and Young recently.
Patrons wanting to attend on Sunday must enter through the Mitchell St gates and entry will only be permitted half an hour before the first race and they will need to register and confirm their personal details (name, phone number and address) at the gate with Harness Racing personnel.
Social distancing is to be practiced at all times and there will be canteen, bar and TAB facilities available.
The first race is at 1.26pm.