General News
4 March, 2025
Second harness club rodeo thrills crowds
Following last year’s success, the M5 ProRodeo returned this weekend to draw an even bigger crowd to its second show at the Maryborough Harness Racing Club.
This year was an even bigger event as Maryborough Harness Racing Club secretary Jackson Barby saw more spectators come through the gates.
“From all reports, ticket sales were up by three or four hundred this year. It was a good sign we had so many last year and people have come back,” he said.
Mr Barby said the M5 ProRodeo group once again met the expectations of putting on a great show.
“The guys are professionals that put on a good show everywhere they go. From all reports, this year they put on a ripper show again,” he said.
Entertainment included live music, meet and greets with bull fighters and entertainment for kids.
“The fact that it’s such a professional show, touring all around Australia, that sort of quality of show coming to Maryborough is a really good thing,” Mr Barby said.
After last year’s popularity, the decision to host the rodeo over the weekend was to accommodate for numerous spectators who travelled long distances to attend.
“We do have a lot of people travelling. The other thing that’s been reflected by ticket sales this year is that we have people from out of town here again too,” he said.
Mr Barby acknowledged these major events were also an important economic benefit for Maryborough.
“We were hoping that by hosting on a Saturday, people are coming to town, staying in town and going to local businesses over the weekend,” he said.
Mr Barby said hosting major events like this is also an opportunity to embrace the Harness Racing Club’s facilties.
“We have fantastic infrastructure out here that allows us to put on these events for the community and we have an amazing racing calender throughout the year, complimented with major events like this that we have scattered throughout the year. It keeps us busy,” he said.
Mr Barby said the event’s local success may also be due to it’s engagement with different age groups throughout the community.
“We had young people here who partied on until midnight, most of the other people attended the main show until about 10. The two groups seemed to work really well and you don’t always get that,” he said.
“The people are looking for something to do, but this is a family event, and ticket sales show there are more families here which is really good to see.”
The future of ProRodeo events coming to Maryborough will be up to the response of the town, which has been well supported so far.
“The event has grown on last year and if they are hungry for it to come back, hopefully we can make it happen again,” Mr Barby said.
“We were blessed with amazing volunteers from our club, and we were very well supported from the Carisbrook Lions Club, they do an amazing job.”