The Sprint Lane Returns as New Weekly Harness Racing Podcast

9 September 2022

The state’s leading drivers and trainers will headline Harness Racing New South Wales’ new weekly podcast which launches on Tuesday.

The biggest names in the sport will join the regular panel each week to discuss the most pressing issues, preview what’s ahead and dissect the week that was in racing across New South Wales.

The podcast will mark the return of HRNSW’s weekly news program The Sprint Lane, which has been in recess ahead of a relaunch in this new format.

The Sprint Lane will be hosted by HRNSW’s Media and Marketing Manager Paul Cochrane, an award-winning journalist who has produced numerous podcasts, including the Australian Podcast of the Year nominated series Childers – The Full Story, which went to number 1 on the Australian charts.

Paul will be joined on the panel by the state’s premier harness racing caller Fred Hastings, himself a prominent broadcaster and host on Sky Sports Radio and Club Menangle’s Jessica Watkins who has been raised in the industry, is an owner and now works on all race meetings at the state’s Principal Club.

Each episode will be recorded live in the trackside broadcast studio at Tabcorp Park Menangle and livestreamed through the HRNSW Facebook page.

The audio will be available immediately after each show on all major podcast programs and applications.

“This is an exciting development for harness racing in New South Wales as we not only move into the podcast space but with the added livestreaming dynamic direct to social media it will give fans and enthusiasts the chance to interact with the show and our guests live as it’s being recorded,” Mr Cochrane said.

“The Sprint Lane has established itself as a regular and well-known communication platform to the industry for the past 18 months but we thought the time was right to freshen up the brand with a new look and tap into the global podcast format which really does broaden the potential reach of the discussion about our product here in New South Wales.”

“There is so much racing going on around the state and it is of the highest standard in the country so the interest in our code is high. It just makes sense to bring people into the conversation around it wherever they are, whether that’s in their cars, out on a walk, sitting on the lounge or even working horses on property at a time that suits them. That’s what the mobility of the podcast product allows.”

“I’ll steer the show and take it in a direction but it is an honour and a privilege to be working on this with Fred and Jess. Fred is the best in the business and his knowledge of both the history and the daily cycle of the harness racing schedule is without peer. While Jess brings such passion, energy and intel to the team. She has grown up around the industry, she owns pacers and is heavily invested in the welfare of Standardbreds, while helping set the agenda for how the sport is positioned through her role at Club Menangle. It’s an exciting mix.”

The first episode of The Sprint Lane launches at 11am on Tuesday, 13 September and is available to watch live through the HRNSW Facebook page.

You can catch the welcome episode and subscribe to The Sprint Lane wherever you listen to your podcasts:

CLICK HERE to listen and subscribe on APPLE PODCASTS

CLICK HERE to listen and subscribe on SPOTIFY