Eugowra's Jodie Greenhalgh has been awarded a prestigious Harness Racing Australia honour for meritorious service.
The long-serving Eugowra Harness Racing Club secretary was on Monday busy organising the popular Canola Cup Day when a surprise was sprung on her - the announcement and very special presentation made.
Jodie has been a member of the Eugowra Harness Racing Club as a 17-year-old and a driving force behind the club's two meetings every year, Peter Nugent from Harness Racing NSW said, reading the citation from the local club and Club Menangle.
The Canola Cup, Eugowra's signature meeting on the October long weekend Monday every year, is now recognised as the go to harness racing event in western NSW and attracts as seen again this year crowds from around the region.
But not only has Eugowra built up its meeting, they have worked with neighbouring clubs, successfully transferring meetings to Bathurst and to Parkes when COVID restrictions and flooding changed circumstances.
Latest Stories
The Eugowra club even took on the Forbes club's historic Anzac Day meeting after the Forbes track was devastated by flooding, a particularly incredible effort given volunteers had been personally affected by the floods.
"Harness Racing Australia and Harness Racing NSW congratulate Jodie on wonderful service to our industry," Mr Nugent said.
Jodie admitted she'd been taken by surprise and said she loved seeing the crowds turn out and have a great day at Eugowra.
Harness racing is in the family with her dad, the late Ken Sharp, a trainer and breeder and her husband Ben a trainer and heavily involved in the sport and club.
The committee has worked hard to keep the gate free for the Canola Cup and provide free children's entertainment including jumping castles, dodgem cars and face painting so families can have a great day out.
"I'd just like to thank everyone for being here today and supporting this great event, which we're very passionate about," Jodie said.
