Albany and Mt Barker to hold 20 meetings in new season as participants prepare for first set of trials

The countdown is on to the start of the new Great Southern racing season with Albany to host trials next Tuesday before the first meeting at the end of the month. There will again be 20 race meetings held in the Great Southern in the 2022-23 season, 14 at Albany Racing Club and six at Mt Barker Turf Club. Mt Barker will start the new season on Sunday, October 30 with the annual Pretty in Pink Day. The final meeting of the season will be held in Albany on Sunday, May 14. Across the local season, there are eight Sunday meetings and seven will be held on Fridays. Three meetings are set down for Thursday and there are sole Saturday and Monday fixtures. Albany will hold the Ladies Day Bracelet on Saturday, January 28. The popular Boxing Day Races will be held on Monday, December 26. Mt Barker has their major Grapes and Gallops meeting set down for Sunday, January 22 and the Mt Barker Cup will be the feature on Sunday, February 19. The Fitzpatrick Plate will be run in Albany on Sunday, January 8, the Albany Cup is on Sunday, April 9 and the Jericho Cup qualifier will be held on Sunday, April 23. A set of barrier trials will be held at Albany’s Percy Spencer Racecourse on Tuesday to prepare for the upcoming season. ARC track curator Trevor Ness said wet weather had hampered preparations but the track was in good condition ahead of the first set of trials. “The weather is going to impact on us a bit, it’s more the cold,” Ness said. “Not getting many days over 15-16 degrees it affects the growth of the track. “The track is looking good, there is grass there but it’s just slightly behind where you’d like it to be. “The plan is still for us to have fast work on Friday and trials the following Tuesday.” Ness said a lot of work went into preparing the facility for a long season. “Fourteen meetings doesn’t sound like a lot but when you have two grass gallops a week that puts a lot of pressure on,” he said. “It starts early but we have to get through it and we know the weather will turn so onwards and upwards we go. “Everything is on track at this stage, some nice fine days hopefully in the next few weeks and we can get the season started.” Great Southern Racing Dates 2022-23 Sunday, October 30 – Mt Barker (Pretty in Pink) Sunday, November 13 – Albany (Opening Day) Friday, November 25 – Mt Barker Friday, December 9 – Albany Monday, December 26 – Albany (Boxing Day) Friday, December 30 – Mt Barker Sunday, January 8 – Albany (Fitzpatrick Plate) Sunday, January 22 – Mt Barker (Grapes and Gallops) Saturday, January 28 – Albany (Ladies Day) Thursday, February 9 – Albany Sunday, February 19 – Mt Barker (Mt Barker Cup) Friday, March 3 – Albany (Tradies Day) Thursday, March 9 – Albany Thursday, March 16 – Albany Friday, March 24 – Mt Barker Friday, March 31 – Albany Sunday, April 9 – Albany (Albany Cup) Sunday, April 23 – Albany (Jericho Cup qualifier) Friday, May 5 – Albany Sunday, Mat 14 – Albany