HARNESS racing will return to Wedderburn for the first time in three years on Australia Day.
The meeting, which features cup races for both pacers and trotters on a nine-race card, will be the only one hosted at Donaldson Park in 2025.
Financially-troubled Harness Racing Victoria last year stripped Wedderburn of one of its two scheduled meetings in a severe blow to the club and the region.
Boort also lost one of its two race days for 2025, with its single event - the cup meeting - scheduled for March 2.
Wedderburn’s meetings for the past two years were held at Maryborough while Donaldson Park’s community hub was redeveloped in a $5 million project.
Club president Bruce Hargreaves said the chance to host the meeting at home was a significant milestone for the club and for the area.
“It’s very important for us to get a bit of mojo back, when we’ve not been racing here much,” he said.
“We’re hoping for very good support from the local community, being the first meeting back with the new pavilion.”
Hargreaves was aiming for an attendance of about 1000, but admitted it was difficult to predict given the long period since a meeting had been held in the town.
Harness racing was first held at Wedderburn on what is now the golf course in 1886.
“We are a very historic club in the harness racing world, so it’s important for us to keep going,” Hargreaves said.
The battle to restore the second annual meeting will continue.
“The board is not discussing anything, but we are still applying pressure and keen to go back to two meetings,” Hargreaves said.
“With the state of affairs at the moment they have to pull the strings in a bit.
“It’s mainly a financial issue. The board is government-appointed, and they were spending like Dan Andrews at times.”
Wedderburn has been in the wilderness before, with tracks including Donaldson Park, Boort and St Arnaud closed in 2005 and not reopened until 2012.
Highlights of the Australia Day meeting include the $15,000 Loddon Shire Wedderburn Pacers Cup and the Reeves Earthmoving Wedderburn Trotters Cup, also with a $15,000 purse.
The event will also feature the final of the Central Victoria Pacing and Trotting Championships.
There will be live music on the day and a Fashions on the Field competition. The club is organising special buses from Bendigo for fans.