Sport
18 October, 2024
Incredible transformation for Harness Racing Club
The Maryborough Harness Racing Club have their sights set on a bright future full of events with their new facilities set to light up events such as the upcoming Redwood Carnival.
The club’s Kendall McFadyen offered an insight into works around the club, with the new function room the culmination of works that has been going on over the last 12 months.
“We’ve put a brand-new bar in, and there are feature walls and new furniture upgrades throughout the function room. It’s a nice, modern look,” she said.
“There’s always some worry about what feedback you get when things change, but the feedback has been positive from our members and visiting guests as well.
“We hadn’t even finished the renovations when we hosted the MCDFNL junior vote count in September, but everyone was commenting on how wonderful it was starting to look and coming along. It was good to get that progressive feedback.
“We had a bit of a break from racing in September, but when everyone came back, the feedback we received from our harness family and community was very good too.”
McFadyen believes the club has improved greatly as a result.
“In the world of hospitality and functions, we’ve upped our game considerably,” she said.
“The level of functions we can offer and the quality and service has improved. We’re looking to expand the kinds of functions and events we can attract here to the function centre.”
McFadyen said community events, which has increased in recent years to include Chopped, Mad Max and the rodeo, have highlighted the growing versatility the venue now provides.
“With outside access around the tracks and the grounds, plus the catering and the function room inside means we can offer so much more.”
That includes preparations for the upcoming Redwood Carnival, which McFadyen believes will provide plenty of excitement.
“We’ve introduced the trivia night this year, trying to tie in and keep everybody involved in more of a carnival over the three-day event,” she said.
“We’ll have the normal trots race day for Remembrance Day on the Friday, acknowledging those who have contributed around the club for many years, then go into the trivia night, which hopefully is a bit of fun for everybody — for those who hang around, we’ll have dinner, trivia and games, and we’ll also have a phantom race call. It will keep everybody involved.
“That will lead into a big Saturday night with Paul Costa returning for our dinner dance, which is currently a sell-out. Our sales went really well early, and it’ll be great to see the room full and buzzing.”