Because after 71 years, the lights will almost certainly go out on harness racing in Gawler on Friday night.

What is fact is that after nearly 41 years, harness racing will cease at the current site on Weaver Road.

The Northern Expressway road project has seen the compulsory acquisition of the land used by the Gawler Harness Racing Club since Saturday, September 9, 1967.

It will be an emotional night for the Gawler life member Dud Kemp from Roseworthy who was at Willaston for the sport’s introduction to the area in 1937.

He was with the club when it raced at the Gawler Oval and will be at the Paceway on Friday night to see the closure of what was classed as ‘the future of harness racing’ when it was opened.

While the club will remain active and ultimately have a trial track for members not far from the current venue, it does not have a local venue to stage race meetings.

In the short-term they will hold their meetings at Globe Derby Park.

Carnival Rose, trained by club vice-chairman Peter Bain is pictured leaving the track after one of her last trackwork sessions at the Gawler Paceway.