THE Leeton Harness Racing Club has reflected on a solid summer carnival season.
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From Boxing Day through until the Australia Day weekend the club held several meetings, including for the prized MIA Breeders Plate and the Leeton Pacers Cup.
It is no mean feat having to organise the carnival as a whole, but it is something club members take great pleasure in.
Club secretary Joanne Punch said overall this year's summer carnival program had been a success.
"The weather was on our side for the majority of it ... the final night (the Breeders Plate) was fantastic," she said.
"The feedback has been positive from everyone.
"We're still getting enough entries to keep the race (Breeders Plate) going, which is good to see.
"We'll have a meeting in a couple of weeks where we will sit down and review what we did this year and see what should stay the same and what should change."
The 2020 $30,600 MIA Breeders Plate was taken out by the Kew Legend at Lin Gordon Paceway.
One of the longest priced winners in the 66-year history of the prestigious Leeton feature, The Kew Legend was sent out a $61 chance, but defied expectations to take out a thrilling finish to the two-year-old classic.
Punch was pleased with attendance at the different meetings, but said the club would be looking at ways to bring more people through the gate once again.
"We already offer things like free entry at the gate and we've added live entertainment, activities for the kids and those sorts of things, but I think we need to add something else that's really going to draw a crowd in, even they aren't really that interested in the racing," she said.
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"That's something we will be thinking about and talking about.
"We'd definitely love to see the big crowds return again.
"In saying that, the track itself was in great condition this year and it was really good to see people come with their chairs and blankets and set themselves up for the night. We're really trying to have it as something all of the family can go to."
This year's heats for the Breeders Plate did cause some concern when the times were pushed back due to extreme heat.
However, while there were some underlying issues associated with this, Punch said the safety and wellbeing of horses always had to be at the forefront of everyone's minds.
The club will soon receive it's fixture for the next 12 months and is already looking ahead to two meetings which will be held in March at Lin Gordon Paceway.
"Those dates are being finalised as we speak," Punch said.
"It's going to be another busy year, but everyone is looking forward to it."