Charity harness racing horse Addy and her Race For Fun Club have been recognised with a national award.
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Harness Racing Australia chairman Geoff Want said the Bendigo Advertiser and Bendigo Harness Racing Club’s innovation in creating the Race For Fun Club had earned the 2011-12 Award of Merit for demonstrated excellent in promotion.
“The media plays a prominent role in the promotion of harness racing, so to see a regional newspaper and local harness racing club join together in such an innovative manner is a credit to the foresight of both organisations,” he said.
“The Bendigo Advertiser has been a long-time supporter of racing and for it to now join together with the Bendigo Harness Racing Club in promoting the Race For Fun Club is further reinforcement of this.
“To see Addy leading the Bendigo Easter Gala Parade was a magnificent promotion for harness racing and both organisations are to be congratulated in winning this award.”
Bendigo Harness Racing Club general manager David Aldred said the award was a significant achievement.
“These awards have been going for in excess of 35 years and are well regarded in the industry as a measure of commitment to harness racing,” he said.
“The Race For Fun Club is seen as an innovative and well conducted initiative, promoted in both traditional and social media, which has been embraced by many in the Bendigo community and attracted new followers for harness racing.”
Bendigo Advertiser editor Rod Case said the win recognised the more than 600 members of the Race For Fun Club and many others who follow Addy through her newspaper column each Tuesday.
“This club was set up to give people an interest – something different to follow,’’ he said.
“It was designed to promote harness racing and give families, couples and friends an opportunity to get out and experience something new.
“Let’s hope now Addy has had a win off the track it might inspire her to finally win that race everyone has been waiting for.’’
The Award of Merit will be presented during the Victorian Harness Racing Hall of Fame dinner at Tabcorp Park Melton on Thursday.
See what Addy thinks of her award on page 6 today.