A huge "Elvis" crowd attended the Parkes Harness Racing Clubs (PHRC) Elvis At The Trots meeting on Wednesday night. On a hot night on and off the track, the crowd was entertained by 8 exciting races and Elvis Impersonator Rick Charles had the crowd rocking in between races.
In Photo: Part of the crowd at Parkes Harness Racing Club Elvis At The Trots 2017 harness meeting.
In Photo: Elvis performer, Rick Charles, entertains the crowd at the Parkes Harness Elvis At the Trots 2017 meeting.
The highlight of the night was the drawing of the Lucky Gate prize. The Parkes HRC gave away a $5000 travel voucher to one lucky patron. The winner was Linda Taylor of Parkes and she was shaking when accepting her prize. Last years winner Debbie Pickstone from St Claire was back hoping to continue her luck and she drew the winning ticket.
In Photo: (Left) Linda Taylor, Travel Voucher winner 2017. (Right) Debbie Pickstone, Travel Voucher winner 2016
On the track the night belonged to the "Turnbulls" with members of the famous harness racing family from Bathurst winning 7 of the 8 races.
Amanda Turnbull was at her very best piloting 4 winners two of which she trained and two for her father Steve. She kicked off the night winning the first race the AGL Energy Tabcorp Park Menangle heat with the $1.40 favorite Cherry Mahoney which ran a top race after being 3 wide for the first lap she was still able to draw away and win by 10 metres in a slick 1.57.7. Parkes trained horses Blake On Fire and Miss Sporty Tara ran the placings and both put in great efforts and a win is not far away for them both.
Greenngold was Amandas second winner in the feature race the TAB.com.au Elvis Championship Final. Although an easing $2.00 favorite the 3yo pacer again proved too strong for his opposition and he has now won at his last 5 starts.
The K & H Haulage Pace and again Amanda was winning on a short priced favorite in Fullon Boundary Row and in race 8 the Parkes Furniture One Pace it was another odds on favorite and Amanda this time Raksmach who sat back in the field before unleashing a strong final 200 metres to race away with a 10 metre margin.
Nathan Turnbull the older brother to Amanda wasn`t going to let his sister get all the glory with him winning two races on the night. His first winner was Nota Bad Move in the Parkes Phoenix Three Year Old Pace. Again he was a short priced favorite at $1.60 and he looked good leading throughout to record his first win. Nathans second winner was in the Betta Home Living Pace on the Aaron Williams trained pacer The Oriflamme. In a thrilling finish with less than one metre separating four runners the punters had a nervous wait before the judge gave his decision. With Turnbull pushing his drive hard to the line he was able to just beat the favorite Blue Chip Memories. Local pacer Double Standards ran a great race for third to only be beaten by a head and he too will soon be winning.
Not to be out done Emma Turnbull, a cousin to Amanda & Nathan , was in top form with her drive on Karinya Mully to win the Parkes Farm Centre Pace. Trained by Gary Eyre at Forbes and owned by Trundle brothers Tom & Col Quade Karinya Mully was the only "local" to take home the major end of the prize.
The other winner on the night was Trunkey Emily and once again it was a leading Bathurst trainer/driver in Bernie Hewitt who proved too strong.
The Parkes HRC race again on Australia Day evening 26th January 2017 and the club has lots of entertainment planned for the patrons.
"ELVIS AT THE TROTS" meeting is one of the biggest event of Parkes Harness Racing Club in the season -- the other one being the New Year's Eve meeting. The Parkes Harness aimed to attract more people, and to promote the horse harness racing industry to people during the time of festival. Until next year, 2018, Parkes Harness Racing Club will be back for the "ELVIS AT THE TROTS" meeting. Most likely, it would be on a Wednesdsay night of Parkes Elvis Festival week.