Sport
20 March, 2026
GALLERY: A Charlton Cup day of new records
There was a lot of emotions running high throughout the day, with excitement as drivers came home with big wins and a touching tribute for a lot of legends of the Charlton Harness Racing Club.
TWO racing records were broken on the tracks on Sunday evening on Chartlon’s biggest day on their trotting calendar.
There was a lot of emotions running high throughout the day, with excitement as drivers came home with big wins and a touching tribute for a lot of legends of the Charlton Harness Racing Club.
Club President Andrea O’Gorman said the group was very relieved to have pulled everything off on what they’re considering to be a “very successful day”.
“I’m not sure if numbers are up or not, but we’re really happy with the turn out,” she said.
Former committee member Troy Heenan said the person who knew exactly how many people had attended each meet was Joe Thompson - a man who was sadly lost late last year.
“He would stand up high somewhere and count the people on the ground like he was counting sheep,” Mr Heenan said.
“And he was pretty spot on every single time. “You could never over exaggerate your numbers at any other meet across the district because Joe would know.”
There wasn’t a single dry eye in the crowd as the final race of the day was run - the Joe Thompson Country Mile Classic.
Everyone in attendance was on the fence as Joe watched on from the screen, keen to see who would be the first to take home his prize.
As the speechers were given and the sash and rug presented to driver Corey Johnson and owner Ros Rolfe for their win on Our Art Work, the crowd remembered the legend they had lost and everything he had given to the club.
But that wasn’t the only dedication of the day, with a race also dedicated to Greg Norman and his Memorial Pace.
The crowd raised a drink to both legends.
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