INVERELL goes racing for the start of the new racing season on Saturday, with Inverell Jockey Club con-ducting its Tradies and Suppliers Raceday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
There will be free on-course displays by trade exhibiters and sponsors with entry by way of a gold coin donation to benefit NEVAT patient transport service. Participants will also go into a free draw for a Raceday Package for 10 people at one of the race meetings later in the year.
Last month, vandals broke into the course and damaged the electric horse walker used by trainers, damaged the stables and fencing as well as setting fire to the club’s water truck, used to water the training tracks.
In a separate incident, the club’s main cool-room was damaged, necessitating urgent and expensive rep-lacement work to be ready for Saturday’s meeting, so the club is now working hard to overcome those ‘winter blues’.
Club president Don Bartlett recently returned from a study tour of racing in the western districts of NSW and said the club was pleased with field numbers.
He thanked local trainers for their support in provid-ing 13 of the original 60 nominations for the meet-ing.
“We tried something new with our sponsor’s night earlier in the year and have had great response from local businesses, with a good group of enthusiastic spon-sors helping with each of our raceday themes” Bartlett said.
“This meeting will be followed by our Family Day in October for the Holy Trinity Art Union draw, and our November meeting will be a Party Day with various groups using the races as the venue for their Christmas and work parties.”
Usually, Boxing Day sees the largest race crowd and this year the club will be promoting that meeting as Reunion Day.
It will be for groups returning home for the holiday period.
The club has been able to retain Cup Day on the New Years Day public holiday with full TAB coverage for the eight race program.
Bartlett said although the district needs the predicted rain for the weekend, he hoped it held off until Saturday night.
“But we have plenty of heaters and cover to help the punters have an enjoyable day watching the local races and the first of the new season feature races commencing in Melbourne and Sydney,” he said.
