The club’s Carnival of Cups heats will kick-off the short, two-week season on Sunday, February 3 before with the finals to be run the following week on Family Day.

This year the club has also established a battle of the sexes race of sorts, with male and female drivers pitted against each other in one of the second meeting’s races. 

Drivers already confirmed for that include Orange’s own Jake Davis, along with Codi Rauchenberger,  Brittany Graham, Amy Day, Isobel Ross, Martelle McGuire, Mat Rue, Anthony Frisby, Mitch Turnbull and Robbie Morris – a stellar cast by anyone’s standards.

Brittany Graham will also partake in a number of other duties throughout the day, calling on her Sky Racing talents.

“Some of the emerging stars in the female driving ranks will be challenging the established male drivers,” Orange Harness Racing Club’s Frank McRae said.

Renowned Australian race caller Mark McNamara, now living in New Zealand, will be travelling across the Tasman to call the finals as well in a big coup for the club.

On Family Day there will also be food stalls, jumping castles, face painting, mini trots, performance from local gymnastics clubs and the Orange City brass band, with all welcome to bring a picnic lunch too.