Inter Dominion heat is hot to trot

FOR the first time in 10 years the Inter Dominion harness racing championship returns to Victoria, and the Ballarat and District Trotting Club is hosing round two of the heats.

Set for this Tuesday, 4 December, the event will see 34 trotters go over three races on the 10-event card, so no matter what happens you’ll see the 2018 Inter Dominion champion in action.

CEO of the Ballarat and District Trotting Club, Paul Rowse, said the racing series was like a carnival and drew followers nationally and internationally.

“A lot of people travel from all parts of Australia and New Zealand to follow this carnival,” he said.

“It’s not just your normal race goers, it’s a bit like the English Fanatics in cricket.”

But it’s not just a carnival on the track, as the club’s partnering with a number of local organisations and individuals to ensure there’s plenty to do for the dedicated harness racing fan and the first timer alike.

There’ll be a food truck area that’s being put on in conjunction with Plate up Ballarat. When a similar stand-alone event was held earlier in the year over 1000 people turned out to sample the best of what the region has to serve up.

Along with the food trucks there’s a kid friendly zone with a range of activities to keep the young ones occupied including jumping castles and face painting.

“We’re looking to showcase all that Ballarat has to offer,” Mr Rowse said.

If that wasn’t enough, local illustrator and designer Travis Price will be painting a 21-meter mural on the wall of the grandstand.

“People that want to just come along and check out what Travis is doing on the night will be blown away at how great his mural will be,” Mr Rowse said.

Mr Rowse also said the Ballarat and District Trotting Club was a great venue to see what harness racing is all about.

With the racers thundering down the home straight and an accessible parade ring, spectators have the chance get so close to the action they can see the excitement in the horses’ eyes.

“Any patron that comes along can get right up to the fence and see the horses live and it’s quite a different feeling when you see a 500kg horse go flying past you at speeds of up to 40kph,” Mr Rowse said.

The Inter Dominion format sees three different heats held across the state and then a final meeting to be held in Melton.

The 34 runners come from around Australia and New Zealand. They race a number of times at each heat, over varying distances, with points allocated depending on where each horse places.

The more points a competitor gets, the better chance they have of making the final.

The Inter Dominion heat two goes on Tuesday, 4 December at the Ballarat and District Trotting Club.

Gates open at 5pm.

For more information on the local meeting, and other locations and events as part of the carnival, visit id18.com.au.