Rusten enjoying King Island move ahead of season opener

The King Island Racing Club will stage their first meeting for the season on Saturday afternoon.

Harness racing driver Tiarna Rusten will be chasing her first career winner at the dual code meeting, which features five thoroughbred races and two harness events.

Rusten, 23, went to the Island last season when the club put out a social media plea for participants to keep its summer season going, which attracted interest from other parts of Australia, including the then Parkes (NSW)- based participant.

“Bill Hayes, a gallops trainer from Forbes, was making the trip down and asked if we wanted to go and strap for him. Then we found out there was harness racing there, so we decided to take two horses down with us.

“My father and grandfather have been trainers, and my sisters and I followed them into driving,” Rusten said.

The trip was meant to be a summer getaway, but once she returned to her New South Wales base, she decided to make a more permanent move to the Island.

“I just enjoyed King Island when I was there, and I have a bit of an adventurous personality, I guess you could say. So I just decided to come back for a bit of fun, and I now work for TRT (a cattle station on the Island).

“It’s a magical place. It’s quite easy to love it,” said Rusten.

There is no off-track betting on the King Island meetings this season, but for those who can’t make it trackside, the meeting will be live-streamed yet again via the King Island RTV YouTube page.

A limited number of seats are available for purchase across selected meetings on a return charter flight from Launceston, with bookings taken on a first-in, first-served basis. Expressions of interest are urged to email racing@tasracing.com.au as first point of contact.

King Island race dates for 2024-2025 season

• Ladies Day – Saturday 30, November 2024
• Beef Day – Saturday 14, December, 2024
• Boxing Day – Thursday 26, December, 2024
• Cup Day – Wednesday 1, January, 2025
• Recreational/Dairy Day – Saturday 11, January, 2025
• Maritime Day – Saturday, 18 January, 2025
• Fly In Day – Saturday, 25 January, 2025