January 1996 was the last meeting held at Ulverstone in Tasmania’s north-west.
On Sunday night, the once popular harness racing town will be remembered with the 2023 Goracing Ulverstone Cup being held in Launceston.
The race was transferred and run annually by the Devonport Harness Racing Club following Ulverstone’s forced closure before finding a temporary home in Launceston last year.
A field of 12 will contest the 2689m standing start event, headlined by recent Launceston Mile and Devonport Quality winner Harjeet (Rocknroll Hanover).
The winner of over $300,000 had won those 1680m races in slick mile rates of 1m 54.9s and 1m 54.8s in mobile start races, but on Sunday, he will have to overcome a 30m handicap for victory, with his trainer Todd Rattray once again in the sulky.
Six runners are in single figures in early markets, including recent New Zealand import All By Myself, who impressed at her Tasmanian debut in Hobart last week for trainer-driver Rohan Hillier.
It was the fifth career win for the five-year-old daughter of American Ideal, whose four New Zealand wins had been in standing start events.
Another highlight on the card is the Max McCormack.
Max made a significant contribution to the Devonport Harness Racing Club as secretary, patron, and life member.
He and his wife Peggy, worked to develop some innovative ideas such as combined meetings with the greyhound club and the grandstand refurbishment in the late 80s.
Max was a prominent player in gaining Sky Coverage of Tasmanian harness racing on Friday night’s during the 1990s, with his contribution recognised by being inducted into the Tasmanian Harness Racing Hall Of Fame last year.
The race named in his honour is restricted to pacers who have won less than $10,000 in prize money, where Camelot Jedimaster is the pre-post favourite.
The Sutter Hanover gelding is first-up since finishing third behind Rock Artist in the Golden Slipper in December, and the Deborah Williams-trained pacer hasn’t been seen in public since.
The ten-race card commences at 17:04 and will be shown on Sky Racing 1 and TasracingTV.
For complete race results, click here.