The Carrick Park Pacing Club will remember one of Australia’s greatest pacers with the running of the Halwes Free For All (1670m) on the 10-race card this Sunday.
Halwes, one of the integral inductees into the Tasmanian Harness Racing Hall of Fame, won his maiden debut in November 1963 and went on to win 47 races, including the 1968 Miracle Mile.
He died in September 1987 at the Hagley property of his trainer and part-owner, Aub Wesley. His remains are located just to the right of the winning post, and many of his trophies and memorabilia are in the club’s museum on track.
The winning trainer of the race will receive $1,000 if the winner can break the 1670m track record of 1:56.3s, which was set by Jimmy The Irishman, who is also engaged in the race, in December 2023.
Gordons Bay is one horse in the race that has produced a 1:51.7s win in the past.
The seven-year-old gelding raced for several seasons in New South Wales before having a stint in the Todd Rattray and then John Castles stables during last year’s Summer and Autumn carnivals before returning to New South Wales.
“He was a bit disappointing when he went back to Menangle, and the owners decided to have another go back down here,” said driver Charlie Castles.
Last week, the pacer had his first start back in the state when he finished second to Keayang Fitzy in the Burnie Cup.
“He began evenly, not too fast, not too slow, and ended up on the fence, which I wasn’t too worried about as I think that when he is at his best, he can get that cold sit on them.
“He didn’t really lose any ground on the winner, and hopefully, he can improve off that. The 2789m first up was a bit of a task, but he is back to his preferred distance this week,” the driver said.
Gordons Bay has drawn barrier five in the sprint trip event and returns to the track where he won his last race on 11 February, when he led from barrier six.
“The draw makes it tricky, but if he puts his best foot forward, he should be around the mark at least.
The first race is scheduled for 15:04.
Race one, along with seven through ten, will be shown on Sky Racing 1, with races two to six scheduled for Sky Racing 2
