Punters won't have to wait long the return of harness racing in the south.

The 2020/21 Southern Harness Racing season ended at Invercargill's Ascot Park Raceway, but the first meeting of the new season is scheduled for Thursday, August 5, also at Invercargill.

Fifty-three meetings are scheduled on the 2021/2022 calendar with 21 at Ascot Park Raceway, 15 at Central Southland Raceway in Winton, seven at Young Quinn Raceway in Wyndham, two at Gore Raceway, plus the annual three race days in Central Otago at Omakau, Roxburgh and Cromwell respectively.

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The other five meetings are at Oamaru Racecourse with the Oamaru Harness Racing Club now a part of Southern Harness Racing.

Any inquiries regarding dates, functions and sponsorship for the upcoming season can be made via Southern Harness Racing's Promotions Officer, Lindsay Beer – 021 351 499/[email protected]

AUGUST 2021

Thursday 5 August: Noon (Invercargill HRC @ Ascot Park Raceway, Invercargill)

Thursday 12 August: Noon (Gore HRC @ Young Quinn Raceway, Wyndham)

Thursday 19 August: Noon (Winton HRC @ Central Southland Raceway, Winton) 

Thursday 26 August: 11.30am (Winton HRC @ Central Southland Raceway, Winton)

SEPTEMBER 2021

Thursday 2 September: Noon (Invercargill HRC @ Ascot Park Raceway, Invercargill)

Thursday 9 September: Noon (Wyndham HRC @ Young Quinn Raceway, Wyndham) 

Saturday 18 September: Noon (Invercargill HRC @ Ascot Park Raceway, Invercargill) 

Sunday 19 September: Noon (Oamaru HRC @ Oamaru Racecourse, Oamaru)

Thursday 23 September: Noon (Winton HRC @ Central Southland Raceway, Winton) 

Thursday 30 September: Noon (Gore HRC @ Young Quinn Raceway, Wyndham)

OCTOBER 2021

Saturday 9 October: 2.00pm (Northern Southland TC @ Ascot Park Raceway, Invercargill)

Thursday 14 October: Noon (Wairio TC @ Central Southland Raceway, Winton)

Sunday 17 October: Noon (Oamaru HRC @ Oamaru Racecourse, Oamaru) 

Sunday 24 October: Noon (Tuapeka HRC @ Ascot Park Raceway, Invercargill) 

Thursday 28 October: 3.00pm (Invercargill HRC @ Ascot Park Raceway, Invercargill)

NOVEMBER 2021

Sunday 7 November: Noon (Invercargill HRC @ Ascot Park Raceway, Invercargill)

Sunday 14 November: Noon (Winton HRC @ Central Southland Raceway, Winton)  

Thursday 18 November: Noon (Winton HRC @ Central Southland Raceway, Winton) 

Wednesday 24 November: 3.00pm (Invercargill HRC @ Ascot Park Raceway, Invercargill)

DECEMBER 2021

Wednesday 8 December: Noon (Oamaru HRC @) Oamaru Racecourse, Oamaru)

Thursday 9 December: Noon (Winton HRC @ Central Southland Raceway, Winton) 

Wednesday 15 December: Noon (Wyndham HRC @Young Quinn Raceway, Wyndham)

Saturday 18 December: Noon (Wairio TC @ Central Southland Raceway, Winton)

Friday 24 December: 12.30pm (Winton HRC @ Central Southland Raceway, Winton) 

Monday 27 December: Noon (Gore HRC @ Gore Raceway, Gore)

JANUARY 2022

Sunday 2 January: 12.30pm (Central Otago TC @ Omakau Racecourse, Omakau)

Tuesday 4 January: 2.00pm (Roxburgh TC @ Roxburgh Racecourse, Roxburgh)

Thursday 6 January: Noon (Wyndham HRC @ Cromwell Racecourse, Cromwell)

Wednesday 12 January: 3.00pm (Northern Southland TC @ Ascot Park Raceway, Invercargill)

Wednesday 19 January: 2.00pm (Winton HRC @ Central Southland Raceway, Winton) 

Saturday 29 January: Noon (Invercargill HRC Cup Day @ Ascot Park Raceway, Invercargill)

FEBRUARY 2022

Thursday 3 February: Noon (Winton HRC @ Central Southland Raceway, Winton)

Sunday 6 February: 3.00pm (Wyndham HRC @ Young Quinn Raceway, Wyndham) 

Wednesday 9 February: 2.00pm (Oamaru HRC @ Oamaru Racecourse, Oamaru)

Saturday 12 February: Noon (Riverton TC @ Ascot Park Raceway, Invercargill)

Sunday 20 February: Noon (Gore HRC @ Gore Raceway, Gore) 

Friday 25 February: 3.00pm (Invercargill HRC @ Ascot Park Raceway, Invercargill)

MARCH 2022

Friday 4 March: 3.00pm (Riverton TC @ Central Southland Raceway, Winton)

Wednesday 9 March: 2.00pm (Oamaru HRC @ Oamaru Racecourse, Oamaru)

Saturday 12 March: Noon (Northern Southland TC @ Ascot Park Raceway, Invercargill)

Saturday 19 March: Noon (Wyndham HRC @ Young Quinn Raceway, Wyndham) 

Thursday 31 March: Noon (Wairio TC @ Central Southland Raceway, Winton)

APRIL 2022

Saturday 9 April: Noon (Winton HRC @ Central Southland Raceway, Winton)

Thursday 14 April: Noon (Wyndham Harness Racing Club @ Young Quinn Raceway, Wyndham)  

Friday 22 April: Noon (Invercargill HRC @ Ascot Park Raceway, Invercargill) 

Saturday 30 April: Noon (Invercargill HRC @ Ascot Park Raceway, Invercargill)

MAY 2022

Saturday 7 May: Noon (Invercargill HRC @ Ascot Park Raceway, Invercargill)

Saturday 14 May: Noon (Winton HRC @ Central Southland Raceway, Winton) 

Saturday 21 May: Noon (Invercargill HRC @ Ascot Park Raceway, Invercargill)

Thursday 26 May: Noon (Riverton TC @ Ascot Park Raceway, Invercargill)

JUNE 2022

Monday 6 June: 11.30am (Invercargill HRC @ Ascot Park Raceway, Invercargill)

Saturday 18 June: Noon (Invercargill HRC @ Ascot Park Raceway, Invercargill)

JULY 2022

Friday 1 July: Noon (Invercargill HRC @ Ascot Park Raceway, Invercargill)