Hawkinsville, GA – The 46th Annual Harness Festival will be held on Saturday (April 6) at the Hawkinsville Harness Horse Training Center, 290 Abbeville Hwy., Hawkinsville.

Twelve qualifying races have been drawn for Saturday with a noon post time. The Dan Shetler stable will send 10 to post as they prepare for the upcoming racing season on the Indiana circuit. Stakes winner Bourbon Chase will make his return to the track with Kristin Shetler assigned the driving duties.

Bryce and Michael Brocklehurst will be traveling from Pennsylvania to take up the reins on several horses for their father, Harold Brocklehurst, along with several other drives throughout the race card on Saturday. The Dave Conkright Memorial race is scheduled for the eighth and featured race of the day, for the longtime Hawkinsville trainer that passed away in February of this year.

Along with the harness races on Saturday afternoon, additional activities for the day include the “Pick A Winner” game. Fans will make their selection on which horse they think will win each race by dropping their pick in a numbered box. If they pick the correct winner, they are eligible to be drawn as the winner of the prize given after each race.

Saturday night festivities will continue at the Hawkinsville Harness Training Center Arena with the “Yard Bird” chicken cook-off, the popular Chili cook-off category along with a super fun Best Margarita contest. Several food vendors will be set up along with a kids fun-zone, a mechanical bull and a new attraction “How Long Can You Hang.”

There will be a raffle on a 36″ Blackstone Griddle Cook Station and the Matt Brantley Band will be performing on stage throughout the evening for the patrons enjoyment.

The night will end with a fantastic fireworks display. Admission to the event is free.