Williams rings in 75 years of trots racing

The rich 75-year history of Williams Harness Racing Club was celebrated last month, which included the track’s original bell that has been restored and was rung proudly as the field turned for home in this season’s Williams Cup. The Williams Cup meeting on February 16 was the perfect time for the club to hold its 75th anniversary, with a range of old memorabilia on display on the day including old race books, photos and the club’s bell, which was used at its first event in 1945. Club stalwart Charles Cowcher rang the bell as the runners in the $10,000 Williams Cup entered their final lap, the feature race won by Emjay Twenty Three for trainer Michael George and champion reinsman Chris Voak. Involved at the Williams club since 1981, current committee member Steve Hyde said the club held two daylight meetings a season and was going strong. “Peter Rintoul is our president and my wife, Heather, is the secretary,” Mr Hyde said. “We had a battle. At one stage, they were going to allocate our meetings to Narrogin. “A lot of people in the town, plus the community, fought for the right to stay here. We’ve done a lot of upgrading over the years. “The track has been widened and this year a new surface has been put on and now we are in the process of a new perimeter fence. “The last two or three years we’ve had an increase in membership and the trots here are a very good family day out.” Mr Hyde said the club functioned like any other regional venue and he was confident of a long future. “We had a lot of memorabilia on display back to when they started racing in 1945,” he said. “Charles Cowcher, who has been the lap steward for 44 years, rang the original bell in the final lap. “We race at the shire’s main ground. “It’s a centre for sport, really. “It’s a track that trainers and drivers love to come and race at. “We used to race on a Saturday and now we race on a Sunday, and people come from all over the place to attend. “We always have an outstanding amount of nominations for our two meetings. “We had over 50 horses nominate for the Williams Cup and around 140 all-up for the meeting. “The only thing that will stop us is age. “We need some younger ones to come in and join the committee.”