December 27: Eight races, inc. Golden Apple Super Store heats & dash for cash

January 1: $40,000 Breeders Plate final, plus finals of Golden Apple Super Store and Bells Produce events, CopRice 3YO race and Kriden Park Ladies Invitational

Advertising feature

THE 63rd running of the MIA Breeders Plate will be held at Lin Gordon Paceway over the Christmas and New Year period with thousands expected to pass through the gates to witness the richest race in the Riverina.

Held over three nights from Boxing Day to New Year’s Day, the Breeders Plate Carnival is the jewel in the crown of the Leeton Harness Racing Club.

Preparations are well underway and are running smoothly, according to club secretary Joanne Punch.

“It’s going good,” she said. “Because the races are done early it feels like we have a couple of days extra because we know how many events we have.”

Other activities include free carnival rides for the kids on the first and last night, live music by Dublé (first night) and Mark Smith (last night), and the mini trotters will also do the rounds between races.

“On the last night there will be a parade of horses showing life after racing,” Punch said. “It shows that people can re-home horses, they’re not just left in a paddock.”

Giveaways will be a feature over the three nights of the carnival.

As well as a lucky entry prize of $2000 cash (drawn on the last night and the winner must be present to claim the prize) there will be a raffle of a $1000 shopping voucher

The final night also has the statewide lucky book prize to win a car. One winner from each Carnival of Cups meeting will attend the annual HRNSW awards night for the final draw. 

This advertising feature is supported by the following businesses:

While it will be the last Breeders Plate over the festive season, it is by no means the last meeting at that time or the last Breeders Plate.

From 2018, the Leeton club will continue to host meetings on December 26 and January 1, with the Breeders Plate scheduled for consecutive Friday nights at the end of January.

The move is due to change in the racing season for juvenile horses in NSW. 

“We’ve had to try and choose a date and fit in with the other clubs (in the region) … Harness Racing (NSW) had the final decision in who did what,” Punch said.

“With the change in season, we will be the first big feature group race,” Punch said. “They want to make it on the calendar so that trainers can set themselves for this race.”

There will be two heats of the MIA Breeders Plate on the carnival’s opening night, with 14 nominations.

Leeton Harness Racing Club secretary said the smaller fields should make for great racing.

“I’m happy (nominations) haven’t dropped away,” she said. “Ideally we’d like to see more, but they’ll be two heats.

“There will be seven in each. They’re not overly big fields so they’ll all get a fair advantage.”

This year’s heats will feature five fillies – Our Marscapony, Man Hands, Saucy Dreams, Redbank Addi and Miss Sangrial – which is slightly unusual.

“Last year we had one filly left in the final,” Punch said.

“A lot of people say they don’t want to race fillies against colts because colts are stronger.”

Eight of the entrants are based in the Riverina with four from the Leeton club. David Jack (Euroa) is the only trainer with multiple entrants.

Only four horses have race experience and two of those – Our Marscapony and Call Me Hector - have both drawn the second row.

Related