by Brenda Valiante

Hawkinsville, GA — The 43rd annual Harness Festival and second annual Smokin’ The Track Georgia BBQ Association cook-off will be held April 1 and April 2 at the Hawkinsville Harness Horse Training Center, 290 Abbeville Hwy., Hawkinsville.

Activities kick off Thursday night (March 31) with festival sponsors, horsemen and BBQ teams invited to a fish fry and meet and greet with the 2016 Harness Festival queens and princesses. In addition, recognition awards and certificates will be presented to trainers with top money earners on the 2015 race circuit for horses that trained the previous season at the Hawkinsville Harness Horse Training Center.

Seven qualifiers are scheduled for Friday with a 2 p.m. post time. Six races for 2-year-olds are slated to follow immediately after qualifiers. Eight qualifying races have been drawn for Saturday with a 12:30 p.m. post time. Older Trotting Mare of the Year for Indiana, Allie Labrook, will be making her 2016 debut on Saturday.

Friday night activities include live music, “yard bird” chicken and Brunswick stew cook-offs, and new to the competition this year, a margarita category. Kent Young, last year’s winner of the yard bird competition, will be returning to defend his title. Lisa Martin of Martin’s Racing Ritas is said to be an early favorite in the best margarita competition. Friday night will close with a fantastic fireworks display.

Saturday morning begins with the Taylor Regional Hospital’s Hoofin’ It For Your Health 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run. Gates to the festival will open at 10 a.m. with opening ceremonies beginning at noon with the parade of festival queens on the track. Live entertainment, GBA BBQ judging, arts and crafts, kids’ activities, food and more are on the schedule along with the live harness racing.

Kentucky native Tyler Shehan will step into the announcer’s booth this year between his driving duties to call the races. Shehan was the leading driver of the 2015 Red Mile meet.

Saturday evening will end with a BBQ dinner hosted by Track Manager Jim Valiante in appreciation to all the horsemen training at the Hawkinsville Training Center this season. The BBQ will be prepared by award-winning Grand Champion BBQ pitmaster Lonnie Smith of Bubba Grills who also will be competing in the Smokin’ The Track competition.

For more information about the festival contact the Hawkinsville-Pulaski Chamber of Commerce at 478.783.1717.