Shepparton Harness Racing Club’s annual Pacing For Pink meeting has raised a stunning $41,353.55 for the McGrath Foundation.

A big crowd attended the races on Sunday, including participants, volunteers, locals, staff, horses and ponies who were all dressed in pink.

The silent auction raised $18,570 for the cause, with young harness racing driver Jack Laugher contributing a hefty sum to acquire a signed Collingwood guernsey.

The breakdown of fundraising highlights can be seen below:

  • Silent auction $18,570
  • Dinner $6,240
  • Major raffle $4,990
  • Merchandise $2,700
  • Sponsored senior drivers pony trot $2,470
  • Sponsored race names $1,613
  • Lucky hearts $1,050
  • Sponsored pink no. 8 $900
  • Punters’ club $870
  • Marquees $700
  • Gate (gold coin donation) $600.55
  • Donations $650

The Pacing For Pink team offered their appreciation to all the volunteers and participants that contributed to the success on the day.

“Lauren Caldow was the biggest helper. She helped with the smooth running of the presentations,” Pacing for Pink co-ordinator Margaret Watson said.

Watson also offered her thanks to Paul Campbell for donating his time as MC, Darren Carroll and Tim O’Connor for their efforts with the punters’ club and Colleen Boyington for her wonderful job organising the events upstairs in the function room.

There were plenty of happy winners during the day, including popular Ballan trainer Phil Chircop who snared a stable double.

Rock N Roll Heaven-Ourgirlbillielee gelding Maxnjaz took out the $7,000 Infinity Coordination and Support 3Y0 Pace over 1690 metres and four-year-old Centurian Alm-Pepperell Magic gelding McGee the $4,500 Saddleworld Bendigo and Shepparton Trotters Handicap (1st Heat) over 2190 metres.

Both were driven by Parwan’s Jodi Quinlan, who brought up a driving treble after earlier winning the feature race on the program - the $10,000 Olive Hayes Memorial Pace - aboard the Shane Sanderson-trained Always B Miki-Pearl Stride filly Sunset Stride.

Olive Hayes was a former president of The Angelique Club and became its first life member in 2015. She was also the mother of Michael Hayes, who drove many winners until his passing.

SUNDAY’S MAJOR AWARDS

Hygain Senior Male Driver – James Herbertson 

Hygain Concession Male Driver – Adrian Pace

Hygain Senior Female Driver – Jodi Quinlan

Hygain Concession Female Driver – Jordy Chibnall

Trainer of the Day (donated by Adele Watson) – Philip Chircop

Gards Carpentary and Joinery Best Presented Horse in Olive Hayes Memorial -  Danger Play trained by Laura Wilson

Leijen Racing Best Presented Horse of the Day – Streets Of Madrid trained by Laura Wilson

The Paing for Pink theme rolls on to Sunday's meeting at Ararat, while Mildura is planning a big evening to bring the curtain down on the month-long campaign on May 31.