Harness Racing New South Wales will broadcast Saturday night’s semi-finals of the NSW Breeders Challenge Series as part of a special programming event across its own digital platforms.
With spots in the grand final of the million dollar Group 1 series up for grabs, HRNSW will host the four races from its trackside studio at Tabcorp Park Menangle.
Highly-experienced sports broadcasters Ryan Phelan and Eloise Sohier will anchor the innovative coverage, which will feature live interviews with drivers and trainers throughout the night.
The semi-finals will be broadcast live on the HRNSW Facebook and YouTube channels. Subscribers will also be able to watch the coverage on the Sky Racing Active app.
In between the NSW Breeders Challenge Series 3YO semi-finals, the broadcast will include the barrier draws for the fillies and colts and geldings categories, for both the two and three-year-olds.
The team will provide analysis and updates as part of the countdown to the prestigious NSW Breeders Challenge Series grand finals on Saturday, 30 October, to be held at Australia’s best harness racing track Tabcorp Park Menangle.
The blockbuster grand final night program will include five Group 1 races, with the time-honoured Len Smith Mile to be run alongside the NSW Breeders Challenge Series deciders.
The 2021 NSW Breeders Challenge Series commenced at Leeton on 7 September, with heats held at nine tracks across the state over the past six weeks.
That opening night featured a starring performance from last year’s 2YO colts and geldings champion Bar Room Banta, who launched the Series by breaking the Leeton track record. He will be looking to add the three-year-old crown to his resume for trainer Michael Stanley and premiership-winning driver Luke McCarthy.
McCarthy will also drive last year’s two-year-old fillies runner-up and early favourite Anntonia in this week’s semi-finals for trainer David Thorn.
The Series has unearthed some of the most exciting two-year-olds in the country, with Jarrod Alchin’s young guns My Ultimate Byron and My Ultimate Ronnie, together with Brian Portelli’s speed machine Smaltese among the leading chances after eye-catching performances through the 2YO colts and geldings qualifiers.
Alchin will also prepare the favourite in the 2YO fillies final following two impressive performances from emerging star Madrid, although Captains Queen, which has been under the care of Goulburn-based driver Brad Hewitt throughout the Series is widely-tipped to feature prominently after a dominant semi-final win.
The broadcast will commence on the HRNSW Facebook and YouTube channels at 7:05pm ahead of the first of the NSW Breeders Challenge Series 3YO semi-finals, race 3 on the Saturday night Tabcorp Park Menangle program.
The NSW Breeders Challenge Series finals are part of a mouth-watering schedule ahead for harness racing fans, highlighted by the 2021 Inter Dominion Series, hosted by Harness Racing New South Wales and Club Menangle.
