Harness racing was merely some added colour and even something new for many families at Tabcorp Park at Club Menangle today.

It was the south-west Sydney racetrack's annual Family Fun Day and Fisher's Ghost race meeting.

And while the serious harness racing was top notch with two rich finals of the Menangle Where Horses Fly Country Series as well as the Group Two Franco Australian Trotters Final and the J. C. Caffyn Plate, there were so many other things to keep the youngsters busy.

Free rides, fairy floss, face-painting, the C91.3 road crew, a petting zoo and regular patrols from the club's mascot, Trigger, kept most of the kids occupied for the warm afternoon.

A large number of fans also gathered to watch a welcome to Country by local elder Uncle Ivan Wellington followed by a performance by an aboriginal dance troupe.

And after the indigenous drivers were introduced to the crowd, the day was capped off by a marvellous performance by The Aboriginal Vocal Identification Program choir, singing some traditional Australian songs.

"This day just seems to get bigger and more popular every year and it is great to see the indigenous Australians have supported it by turning up in large numbers to be part of the fun and entertainment," said Uncle Ivan, who has become a regular at the track for this meeting each year.

Albury reinsman Royce Gregory-Jack also made the six-hour drive from the border town to be part of the action and made history when he won the Indigenous Drivers' J. C. Caffyn Plate for the third time in six years.

A record that even many of the children stopped to applaud – before returning to their free rides and other entertainment.

Amanda Zammit