THE tension of the crowd as the starters file in, and the faint whiff of a big paycheque if their number comes up. The nervous trainers, watching on from the sidelines, each only as good as their last start. All waiting on the starter's gun to end the building anticipation and throw the arena into chaos. There's no finer, more noble sport than yabby racing.
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Devotees of this outback Australian gambit can catch some of the nation's finest racing yabbies with the oldest, most pure racing bloodlines all thrust into a bucket and dumped into the middle of the racing ring at Walsh's Hotel, clawing their way across the track to the finish line. Ten bucks a yabby, first past the post takes the pot.
Queanbeyan's inaugural yabby races kicks off on Australia Day from 1pm, with all profits raised going to the Queanbeyan Children's Special needs group. Publican Trent Miller said the idea came from the desire to do something "quintessentially Australian" on Australia Day.
"It's a bit of fun on Australia Day and something a bit different for Queanbeyan," Mr Miller said. "And all profits are going to a good cause, the Queanbeyan Children's Special Needs Group."
It's the first time the local pub has attempted the sport, and Mr Miller admitted the team were flying blind on some of the finer points of yabby racing.
"We've got no idea how long a race lasts. It could be anywhere between a minute up to 15 minutes," he said
However the two feature races- the light weight cup for little nippers under 75 grams and the heavy weight cup for the big bruisers- will attract the most betting interest on the day, with unlimited entries and a trophy plus the pot going to the winner. Race 10, the Heavy Weight Cup, will commence around 5.30pm.
Each yabby has its own racing name, with a strong culinary theme running through the form (Casserole Pete in race 3 may come to a sticky end, although She's a Cray could go all the way in race 5 if the judges don't drug test her afterwards.)
Contact Walsh's Hotel on Monaro St to purchase a starter prior to race day, or yabbies can also be purchased on the day. Full terms and conditions available at the pub.
