An army of volunteers have helped make harness racing happen throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
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Terang Harness Racing Club (THRC) life member and track curator Allan Driscoll says he's just part of the team doing their best.
He knows how crucial volunteers have been in 2020.
"I don't think it would happen without the volunteers," he said of racing this year.
"Harness racing in general in the country areas is nearly all volunteers.
"Most harness racing people are very passionate and it's a family-orientated sport."
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Driscoll is proud to be part of it.
"The whole community involved in harness racing, we're all a very close-knit group," he said.
The committee member of almost 35 years has numerous roles at the club.
He looks after the track, mows the grass and is also a starter.
The 70-year-old is part of a team of four "mobile barrier men" which includes Paul Bailey, Steve Lambert and Ian Slater.
The four volunteers rotate the two-person job.
One drives the car while the other controls the barrier.
Driscoll said he had been putting in more than 20 hours of volunteering per week this year.
"It's pretty full on but a rewarding job," he said.
He'd normally put in about 10-15 hours but it's been busy despite the coronavirus.
"Because we have been racing so consistently at Terang; between trials and the racing side of it, it's been pretty full on since Christmas time," he said.
Harness racing is one of the few south-west sports which has continued this year, albeit with strict COVID-19 restrictions.
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Harness Racing Victoria has a region-based model with three hubs.
Those based at Terang can attend races at Ballarat, Bendigo, Charlton, Echuca, Kilmore, Maryborough, Shepparton and Stawell.
Vice-president Clare Payne has noticed Driscoll's efforts.
"He's doing more than anybody else," she said.
"He's just doing a power of work.
"The track is in great condition."
Driscoll said he started looking after the track about 15 years ago.
He has been curator all but three or four years during that time.
The life member said the club also employed Melton's track curator to come once every two months.
"He makes sure everything is hunky-dory," Driscoll said.
The volunteer said preparing the track took a day and explained the process.
"There's probably 80-odd (safety) pegs around the running line and they've got to be removed every time we grade the track," he said.
"We have a grader of our own and it's got a serrated blade on it.
"It can take anywhere between four and five hours to eight hours to grade the track."
Driscoll alters the height and depth of the grader from the cabin of his tractor.
The pegs, positioned about every five metres on the inside the track, are put back after grading.
Then it's time for the conditioner, a separate machine that also sits behind the tractor.
He explained there are tines underneath the conditioner which break up the surface and there are rollers which make it firm.
A sheet of mesh is hooked behind the conditioner and gets rid of any marks on the track.
"You don't want any marks on the track because the horses might jump," he said.
Driscoll emphasised the importance of a consistent surface.
"You don't want it heavy in some areas and light in others because that can break a horse down," he said.
Driscoll explained the track needed more watering in summer than in winter.
The curator doesn't just get the surface ready for trials and meets.
He said he also gives it a brush three times per week as local trainers use the track.
Driscoll praised his fellow committee members for the hard work they put toward their various roles.
He pointed out other members of the nine-person committee, all volunteers, also helped him with the track and lawns at times.
The 70-year-old isn't just facilitating the action, he's part of it as well.
He and wife Margie have three horses at their 20-acre property a stone's throw from the club track.
Sporty Culture is the only one in work at present.
The four-year-old has a win and three placings from her ten starts.
Driscoll explained another horse Modern Culture won his most recent race but has been out of action for two years with a tendon injury.
He believes the six-year-old is nearly ready for trials again.
There's also a filly in the stable.
The Driscolls have been a strong team for decades.
They had A and M Driscoll Proprietary Limited in Terang for almost 40 years.
Driscoll is grateful to Margie for training their horses when he was flat out with business.
The builder of 51 years decided to retire three years ago.
Margie is also treasurer of the Owners, Trainers, Drivers and Supporters Group.
Driscoll said the fundraising group had made a significant contribution to the club, particularly towards the upcoming revamp of the racing precinct.
He said the group had fund-raised in numerous way including through auctions, raffle tickets and meals.
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The approximately $2-million project involves a 117-metre-long stable complex with walk-through stalls, as well as a community hub for events and fundraisers as reported by The Standard in 2018.
The Standard also reported, at that time, the fundraising group had contributed more than $300,000.
Driscoll said multiple aspects, including the pandemic, had delayed the upgrades.
The club stalwart, drawing on his extensive building experience, also contributed to the project.
"I had a big part in the design of the stable and getting that all orgainsed with architecture," he said.
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