Following a switch in programming, the popular cup meeting will now be run as a night meeting at Bendigo on Tuesday, November 16.

Elmore Harness Racing Club secretary Gary Cooper said the move had become necessary after the club was informed there would be no Sky Channel coverage available on Boxing Day afternoon, thereby making the date financially unviable.

With no other options available on the harness racing calendar, Cooper said the club risked losing its 2021 cup meeting altogether without the switch in venue and date.

"The club feels that, to try to conduct the pacing cup meeting at Elmore on any other date other than Boxing Day, would also not attract a sufficient public crowd to the Elmore venue," Cooper said.

"As such, it would be unlikely that the club would be able to cover the extensive costs of bringing in the required infrastructure to conduct the day and bringing the facilities up to standard. Hence, the decision to race at an alternative venue.

"This would be even more relevant should COVID necessitate the meeting proceeding without public in attendance.

"While we are most disappointed to lose the option of conducting this traditional community race day at Elmore, we do, however, see many benefits from racing at Bendigo.

"The Bendigo venue will enable us to run a profitable cup meeting, whilst also being able to offer our patrons and participants, and particularly our sponsors, a much higher standard of facilities and comfort on the night."

The club had hoped for a return of racing to Elmore after last year's meeting was cancelled two months ahead of time due to COVID complexities.

Its 2019 cup meeting, highlighted by a pacing cup win to the Heathcote father-daughter combination of Jim and Shannon O'Sullivan with Fourstarzzzspecial, was the club's fourth at Elmore following an 11-year hiatus after the track was closed in 2004.

With doubt over the future availability of the Boxing Day fixture, Cooper said the club would hold talks with Harness Racing Victoria in a bid to find a suitable date and venue for future cup meetings.

"While this is not the ideal situation, the club is confident of being able to provide an enjoyable night for all going forward," he said.

"We also hope that our existing patrons and sponsors will continue to support the club in this new arrangement."

The club plans to run a free bus from Rochester to Bendigo, via Elmore, to assist district patrons to attend should crowds be allowed.

READ MORE:

Group 1 bonanza for Lord's Raceway | Video

Dual award wins for Mystic Chip | Video

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: