Taranto steps down and up

By Brad Kingsbury
CRANBOURNE Harness Racing Club (CHR) chairman Michael Taranto will step down from the post this month after being approached to head the Metropolitan Harness Racing Club.
The time required in the new position has forced a reduction of Mr Taranto’s role at Cranbourne and he will be replaced by Robert Blanch who will join incoming club chief executive David Scott and create a new CHR administration regime, leading into the 2007-08 season.
Mr Taranto, a long-standing and successful committeeman, said he would maintain involvement with his home club.
“I’ve committed to stay on the committee at Cranbourne for the foreseeable future (and) I will continue in the role as chairman of Trios Tabaret,” he said.
“I was approached to head up the metropolitan Harness Racing Club in Victoria and after some discussion with family and Harness Racing Victoria (HRV), I decided that it was an opportunity that appealed to me.
“I sat down with the Cranbourne (Harness club) executive and spoke to them about whether they thought it was appropriate and if I could fulfill both roles. I’m fully committed to Cranbourne and I really enjoy the involvement there and I wanted to stay involved,” he said.
The Dandenong born and bred businessman who lives in Berwick, has a log term involvement in the sport through ownership, breeding and, more recently, administration.
His committee (in conjunction with chief executive Jacquie Richardson) has overseen a period of harness racing growth and success at Cranbourne, including the development of marquee meetings such as the Cranbourne Cup and Christmas in July.
His expertise and experience was identified by HRV officials who needed the right man at the helm in the lead up to the staging of the Australasian Inter Dominion Championships in Melbourne next March, 2008.
“I have a bent for harness racing and for management and I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he said.
Mr Taranto may have a little more than management on his mind next March, given he also has a major interest in talented New Zealand-trained trotter Rhythm Of The Night that clocked up $100,000 in prize money a fortnight ago.
“We’ve got some high hopes for him over the next couple of years,” he enthused.
“I flew over to Christchurch and watched him run and that was a great thrill.
“He’ll come over here for the Inter-Dominion in March and we’ll see how he goes.”