The Gawler Horse Festival will be conducted from Thursday, April 14 until Sunday, April 17 with many and varied horse exhibitions and displays in and around Gawler.

Friday night’s meeting will feature several demonstrations of items that will be part of the Steinborner Holden Gawler Horse Festival.

The Gawler Harness Racing Club will conduct the 2005 CUB Gawler Cup at their meeting at the Paceway on Friday, April 15 as part of their contribution to the Festival.

The Gawler South Bakery Gawler Derby and Café Nova Gawler Oaks will also be conducted at the meeting.

More than 50 guests and dignitaries, headed by Gawler Mayor Tony Piccolo will attend Friday night’s Gawler harness meeting to launch the Horse Festival with the announcement of the range of activities to be conducted.

The Face Of The Festival is former champion jockey John Letts who apart from being successful with thoroughbred racing as a dual Melbourne Cup winning jockey, has also been a successful harness racing trainer-driver.

Letts also is a Patron of Riding For The Disabled.

The range of activities to be conducted during the Steinborner Holden Gawler Horse Festival is incredible.

The Festival is expected to attract thousands of interstate and overseas visitors and the Gawler Horse Festival office has been receiving world-wide inquiries and will gain international media coverage.

Friday night’s meeting won’t be lacking in atmosphere because apart from the launch of the Horse Festival, Gawler identity Peter McLean’s Frew Trading will be hosting 50 guests taking in an exciting night of harness racing.

On the racing front, Wasleys owner-trainer-breeder Claire Goble would be delighted with the effort of her 3-Year-old filly Clarenden Esprit to run second in a New South Wales Oaks Qualifying Stakes at Harold Park last Friday night.

With her second to boom New Zealand filly Molly Darling, Clarenden Esprit is now certain to obtain a run in this Friday night’s Group One $100,000 New South Wales Oaks (2160 metre) at Harold Park.

Already with a third place in the Nevele R Stud SA Oaks to her credit, Clarenden Esprit is proving she is among the best three-year-old fillies in Australasia.

Gawler Harness Racing Club committeeman Gary Butler ventured to Melbourne last Friday night and his star pacer Bobby Hank ran an excellent third to Flaming Roadstar and Bomber Macray in a heat of the Rising Stars Series and should qualify for a start in this week’s $20,000 Final.

At Globe Derby Park on Saturday, Penfield husband and wife Gary and Sue Hill landed winners with Excitable and Mighty Aslan while Angle Vale trainer-driver Geoff Webster had a training-driving double with Silvagni Style and SA’s top trotter Keystone Johnny.

Two other Gawler committeemen Peter Lawrence and Barry Ewen teamed at Morphettville on Saturday to have a second placing with their thoroughbred Balgold.

Lawrence is developing his interest as a thoroughbred trainer and Ewen and some friends purchased Balgold from interstate.

The mare ran home strongly and looks a coming winner.

Results of the Gawler Harness Racing Trials conducted on Wednesday, February 16.

2-Year-Old Mobile 1750 metres – Elijah*(P. Cavallaro), Stashed (M. Webster), Fatalistic (G. Webster). Last mile 2.03.9; last half 61:0; last 400 metres 28.8; margins 24m x 8m; five starters.

3C0 Mobile 1750 metres – Roaming Ranger* (W. Neilson); Malihide (D. Thuen); Flight Edition (D. Girardi). Last mile 2.06.5; last half 62.5; last 400 metres 30.2; margins half hd x 7m; eight starters.

C0 Mobile 2170 metres – Whirlwind Romance* (W. Neilson); Justalittlebetter (P. Lawrence); Carols Glory (M. Hearl). Last mile 2.06.0; last half 61.2; last 400 metres 29.7; margins 1m x 26m; five starters.

C1 or better Mobile 2170 metres – Glenburn Flame* (M. Barkla), Ginger Blue (D. Billinger), Rat Attack (M. Champion). Last mile 2.06.4; last half 59.4; last 400 metres 28.8; margins head x 6m; five starters.

Track: Good; *led at bell; Cormack’s Corker: Elijah.

Courtesy Of Graham Fischer, Media Liaison Officer, Harness Racing South Australia