Long-time Dubbo trainers are reacting with relief following the agreement between Harness Racing NSW and the state authorities to allow the Dubbo track to re-open.
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Many of Dubbo's trainers and owners have been forced to turn out horses as the cloud of uncertainty hung over the sport's near future in the Central West, with travel costs and tough competition forcing them to make hard decisions.
But now, on Sunday, racing will be returning to home turf, with a number of locals lining up to represent at the first event back at home since the lockdown measures saw the track closed for safety reasons.
Trainer Madison Reynolds says the timing couldn't have been more perfect for him and his developing stable, as another lengthy trek to Bathurst had been pencilled in for this weekend before news came through that the Dubbo track would be open and racing once again.
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"It's worked out perfectly well for me to be fair, my two horses I've got in were really ready for a start this weekend and I'd planned out the trip to Bathurst, but obviously, it's always much better to be racing right here in my own backyard," Reynolds said.
Reynolds' representatives this weekend, Joanandi and Tophut Johny, are both desperate to stretch their legs, with a run in Tamworth for Joanandi the only start either have seen since Dubbo's track closed.
"They're both still going really good at the moment you can't really fault them, they're not the highest rated horses as you'd expect, but I'd be disappointed if either one didn't at least pick up a cheque," Reynolds said.
"Tophut Johny is having his first run for me, he's had three months off, my mother owns him and my brother's sent him to me, he'll improve off the run, I expect him to go good."
"The other one, the mare, she should be thereabouts, I'd be pretty disappointed if she wasn't right there with them."
Reynolds isn't the only one grateful to be giving his horses a start at home, with James Sutton also returning to home turf just in time for a hopefully productive tilt with Yarraman Bella in the Agriwield Pace (2120m).
"It's great to be back in Dubbo, there's been a fair bit of hard travel, even for someone who travels a lot for their day job, having travel to somewhere like Bathurst and then pack up, turn around and be ready for work the next day is difficult," Sutton said.
"But I think it'll be good on Sunday, I've got a pretty good draw with Bella, I'm pretty happy, she wasn't quite fit enough in her last run, but I've got her spot on for this one so it should be good."