HARNESS racing has a wonderful, storied history in Parkes, and it is hard to go past the introduction of night trotting as the single most important moment in that history.
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Trotting hasn't always been at the Parkes Showground, no - it used to be on a track out near the golf course, but it was felt that better facilities could be established at the Showground so, around 1934, the Trotting Club moved to the Showground.
A number of the men involved in the huge move were on both the Trotting Club and Parkes Pastoral Agricultural & Horticultural (Parkes PA & H) Association, which made the transition quite easy.
It is interesting to note that track fees were charged even back then at 7/6 per horse or 5/- per horse (for the same owner with 2 or more horses).
As it did to many industries in Australia, harness racing in Parkes took a back seat during Second World War, but trotting continued to flourish in the Parkes district immediately following.
That's when the Club decided to take the most adventurous step since its inception, by deciding to look into holding trotting events at night.
On May 3, 1951, the Parkes PA & H Association called a meeting, and invited representatives from the Parkes Trotting Club to discuss the possibility of lighting the track at the Showground.
At that time, Mr FJ Skinner was the President of the PA & H Association, while RH Shaw was the President of the Trotting Club and Mr JL Evans the Secretary.
Mr Bill Ward and Mr RK Freeman also represented the Trotting Club.
Mr Shaw advised that the Trotting Club had been granted a licence to conduct night trotting, and that they were keen to run 12 night meetings.
He then added that proceeds from four of those meetings would go to the PA & H Association.
The working party that was exploring the idea, and its practicalities, also received advice from three associations (Newcastle, Tamworth and North Coast) that had their grounds lit.
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Trotting secretary Evans reported that the cost of the lighting at Parkes would be in the vicinity of 6,000 pounds, of which the Club would fund 75 per cent.
Business houses were then approached to make donations towards a raffle to raise funds for the lighting of the track.
It was felt that other sporting groups would also benefit from the lighting, with promotions like rodeos being able to be run at night - boy wouldn't that be a sight in 2021!
Plenty of great donations were received, and they were a mixed bag!
They included a refrigerator (265 pounds), electric stove (60 pounds) and a silver tea set (16 pounds).
Not only that, but president Mr WR Wright reported at a committee meeting in November 1952 that Mr WH Dumesny (grandfather of current Parkes Harness Racing Club meeting coordinator Tony) of the Ruby Vale Stud, had donated either a yearling gelding by Master Dixie or a broodmare, whichever the club thought most helpful.
The NSW Trotting Club was approached in 1952 to assist in the lighting, and the Parkes Trotting Club also obtained some second hand lighting materials form the NSWTC, which reduced the financial burden.
In addition to the executive of the PA & H Association and Trotting Club, Messes FJ Job, WR Wright, and R Aitken were appointed to a committee to oversee the installation of the lighting.
The electrician, Mr Witcombe, and a Mr Jerry Collins, were each given 100 pounds for their voluntary work on the installation of the lighting and were also presented with a Fountain Pen for their efforts.
A dress rehearsal for night trotting took place on December 10, 1952 and a reporter from the Champion Post described the scene as the lights were switched on as "as ribbon of shadowless white, artificial daylight."
Mr HE Greagh, Chairman of Stewards for the NSW Trotting Club, made a special trip to Parkes to inspect the installation and could not speak too highly of the lighting.
After taking a horse for a few laps of the track, he summed it up as 'the finest track in the country areas of NSW, and second only to Harold Park.'
Wow! What a compliment!
That wasn't the only compliment coming the Club's way, Mr Eric Halliwell, Electrical Engineer for the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, was quoted as saying 'there is more light on the Parkes track than there is on the Royal Showground in Sydney.'
It was certainly a big occasion for Parkes, and country trotting in general, and all was in readiness for a special part in history.
Such was the interest for the opening night, that special planes were scheduled to bring officials, trainers and fielders to Parkes which left Sydney at 5.15pm and returned the same night at around midnight.
One well known journalist who vividly remembers making the flight to Parkes was non other than Bill Whittaker, who still holds a strong interest in the sport.
The advertisement that appeared in the Parkes Champion Post on the eve of the first night trotting meeting was very much enticing and read:
NIGHT TROTTING at the PARKES TROTTING CLUB
GRAND OPENING NIGHT
January 1, 1953
PARKES SHOWGROUND
'Where Night is Turned into Day' - SOMETHING NEW - SOMETHING SPECTACULAR
Admission prices were: 10 shillings for and 5 for Ladies (including tax), while season Membership Tickets were 6 pounds 6 shillings which included one gent and two ladies...interesting!
And the night never let anyone down - and went down in the annals as one of the most important events in the Parkes' storied trotting history.
An estimated crowd of around 5500 people enjoyed perfect weather and were treated to an excellent night's racing.
It was a well deserved reward for the months and years of planning and hard work put into the project by the committees of both the Trotting Club and the PA & H Association, their supporters and the townspeople generally.
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