Secretary, manager of the Young Harness Racing Club, Tony Turner and his committee ticked every box to ensure the Carnival Of Cups meeting at Young last Saturday was one to be remembered. 

A crowd estimated at around 1500 locals and visitors alike packed the popular venue for a night of exciting racing, fast times and some close finishes.

Favourite backers started off on good terms with themselves when Kerryann Turner and Robert Morris combined with the late mail runner Live Or Die colt Kleened Out ($1.10) in race one. 

Starting from the pole position, the last start Newcastle winner was certainly a class above the remainder of the field in defeating the awkwardly drawn Dehillman ($28.50) and Karinya Gus for Emma Turnbull and Gary Eyre from Forbes. 

A mile rating of 1:57.6 and a winning four metre margin was enough to bring joy to most patrons, although one so-called “expert” on the fence suggested it was in fact a “boring affair”. 

Race two again was favourable to favourite backers when Amanda Turnbull showed why she is one of the best drivers in Australia by steering Happy To Go ($1.50) to another close but convincing win rating 1:57.4 over the Temora-trained Champion Miss ($27.70) who almost grabbed the money going down by a nose with the locally-trained Cherry Express ($10.30) for Nathan Hoy. 

The winner is owned by the Costello family who are dedicated participants in the sport of harness racing.

Late mail followers were still on good terms with themselves following race three when Amanda Turnbull produced another copybook drive with the Mach Three four-year-old gelding Oh Johnny B Good ($1.90).

Coming from the coveted one out, two back position at the bell, Turnbull defeated The Space Invader ($18.80) who came from midfield  with Lexus On The Beach ($3.80) filling the minors with a 1:56.1 mile rate and a 1.5  metre winning margin to the credit of the winner. 

First of the feature races, the Young Services Club, South West Slopes Credit Union $20,4000 Derby resulted in a win for the Paul Fitzpatrick-trained Match In Heaven ($2.10) driven the perfect race by son Blake who pushed the Somebeachsomewhere colt out to a convincing seven metre win over second favourite Charlaval ($3.70) and Imthevillagestar ($19.30).

 Last start Wagga winner Roarn ($11.60), driven by Canberra reinsman Scott Osmond, started quickly from gate one and leading for most of the trip, set some solid quarters resulting in a mile rating of 1:57.4 before finishing sixth.

The race that everyone came to see, the 2016 Cordina Chicken Farms $30,600 Young Cup, did not fail in anyway to give the crowd an exciting race with a surprising result and a new track record to boot. 

Young race on a 787 metre track with the 2480 metre start in the front straight and three laps to complete for the longest race conducted by the Young club. 

A new track record was set last year by that winner Frith which was previously held by Karloo Mick. 

Spare Me Days ($12.20) driven by Brad Hewitt came from eighth at the bell, circling the field at the 500 and being five wide on the turn to run past the leaders in the straight and post a 1:57.0 mile rate a 7.5 metre advantage over Betabcool ($10.50) and Frith ($2.50) who was gallant in defeat after sitting outside the leader Yayas Hotspot who set some solid quarters of 29.5 and 28.8 and a lead time of 28.7 on the well prepared surface. 

The four-year-old winner is by Ifihadyouyrluck from the Nickalong Shadow mare Tolniki and is of course a sentimental favourite of the Hewitt family so the win and race record will be a thrill to all concerned. 

Frith came from barrier nine and made a forward move early in the race to sit outside the leader and was certainly not disgraced in finishing third in what was a terrific and exciting race.

The fillies came out in race six and again did not disappoint, the eventual winner grabbing victory right on the line. 

Brad Hewitt made it back to back winner with a half head win for the Phillip Thurston, Forbes-trained Gotta Go Jazzy Jet (7.20) over favourite Art Mistress ($2.60) and Genuine Excuse ($10.10) in another sub two minute performance. 

The Jeremes Jet filly had won previously at Menangle on January 8 and her form has been consistent, the win a just reward for the patience shown by her trusted trainer. 

Menangle Park trainer Shane Tritton was glowing of his assessment of the Young track following the win by short priced favourite Blue Moon Rising in race seven. 

The two-year-old son of Santana Blue Chip, driven by Lauren Panella has now won four races from only five starts and his future looks bright. He is not paid up for any major races in coming months. 

Rating 2.00.4 for the 2100 metre event, a 15¼ winning margin over a determined Steve Maguire driven Paternity Suit and the Bathurst-trained Atomic Red for Steve Turnbull filling the minors, the race certainly showcased the prospects of the daughter of the Sands A Flyin mare Lady Moonlight who has a best winning mile rate of 1:54.9 to her credit.

Robert Morris completed the “book ends” by winning the last race on the night with the aptly named The Lions Roar who is by Safari from a mare named after the famous Catherine Zeta Jones. 

Starting at prohibitive odds, ($1.50) he was able to defeat Miss Fifi ($9.90) and Gentlemen Red ($11.30) and in doing so maintained the fast times, 1:59.4, that had been recorded for the entire eight-race program.

There is certainly no doubt in many minds that there is still place for so called “short circuit” racing, the atmosphere is electrifying and the public feel that they are part of the action. 

Winners can still come from the tail of the field, leaders can control the pace and favourites can still win, with six out of eight favourites winning here on Saturday night.

Large tracks are built for speed, smaller tracks provide for good old fashioned driver tactics and ability to control a race. The end result barely changes, the best horse wins!

Young will race again on Friday, April 22 with all roads this week heading to Bathurst for the two week Gold Crown Carnival. Good luck to them.