Turf club backs twilight racing

The Bunbury Turf Club will apply to have more Friday twilight programs next season on the back of the concept’s popularity with fans.

Picture of Glenn Smith by David Bailey

Ahead of tomorrow’s second and final twilight meeting for the 2011-2012 racing calendar, Turf Club manager Paul Rossiter confirmed he was looking to hold more Friday meetings next season.

He said the Friday programs, that run about an hour later than traditional meets, had been well supported by crowds.

Trackside numbers for twilight meetings are typically double that of regular week-day meetings.

Friday evening racing first made an appearance in Bunbury last summer, when a one-off trial drew about 1200 to the Turf Club’s Bussell Highway headquarters.

‘‘We’ve been very happy with how the concept has been going, and we’ll definitely look for more next season,’’ Rossiter said.

‘‘We’d love to see more Friday night programs in Bunbury. We believe the Bunbury Turf Club is the perfect place to start the weekend.’’

Racing tomorrow will begin at 2.15pm and wind up just before 6.30pm.

‘‘The later start time gives people time to come after work and enjoy,’’ Rossiter said.

‘‘We see this meeting as wonderful prelude to the South West Autumn Racing Carnival, which will get under way in Bunbury next month.’’

Comeback jockey Glenn Smith will be out to continue his promising return to the saddle at the meeting.

After a four-year layoff from racing, Smith donned the silks again for the first time last November, and since then has placed in 68 of his 144 races—including 22 winners.

Among his best chances tomorrow will be on board four-year-old Lidnsey Smith-trained mare Deportment in the Pacific Premium Funding Handicap (1690m).

Deportment will be aiming for back-to-back wins after being victorious in her first start back from a spell on January 12.

That triumph, by a head in the South West Autumn Racing Carnival Handicap (1675m), was her first since breaking her maiden status in mid-2011.