Menangle Harness Racing Honors Battle of Beersheba Anniversary

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, October 31, 2026

Club Menangle is hosting a special harness racing event tonight to mark the Battle of Beersheba anniversary, featuring six Breeders’ Challenge Finals with top three-year-old pacers like Australasian record-holder Loucasso. The event highlights both the venue’s historical connection to the Australian Light Horse Infantry and the intense competition expected as Loucasso confronts his toughest field yet from barrier 10.

Club Menangle is commemorating the anniversary of the Battle of Beersheba with a special harness racing program tonight, drawing connections between the historic cavalry charge and the equine athletes competing at the venue. The battle, fought on October 31, 1917, during the First World War, saw the Australian Mounted Division’s 4th and 12th Light Horse Regiments mount a daring bayonet charge that played a crucial role in breaking the Turkish defensive line between Gaza and Beersheba.

Located on land once used as a training ground for the Australian Light Horse Infantry Regiment at Holsworthy, Club Menangle honors its historical ties to these mounted units by hosting a memorial service on the battle’s anniversary. The site has since evolved into one of the southern hemisphere’s premier harness racing tracks.

Tonight’s racing card is highlighted by six Breeders’ Challenge Finals, featuring some of Australia’s top young pacers. Standouts include Loucasso and Ark Sea, both Australasian record holders, who are anticipated to offer strong performances. Loucasso, trained by Seaton Grima, has maintained an undefeated record in four starts this year. The pacer recently set a new Australasian three-year-old record, covering the mile in 1:47.6 during last week’s Breeders’ Challenge semifinal—a time that eclipsed the previous mark of 1:48.8 set by Sao Paulo Simba in 2025 at the same track.

Loucasso’s time places him among only a handful of pacers to have broken the 1:48 barrier south of the equator. My Field Marshall currently holds the fastest recorded time with a 1:46.9 finish during the 2018 Miracle Mile, while others such as Have Faith In Me, Cya Art, and Rakero Rocket have also recorded times in the 1:47 range.

Despite these impressive credentials, Loucasso faces a challenging assignment tonight after drawing barrier 10, positioning him in what is regarded as the strongest field of his career. The competition promises an intense contest as these emerging talents vie for the prestigious Breeders’ Challenge titles under the floodlights at Menangle.

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