Tamworth trainers took out the feature events on New Year’s Day. Monashee Woods, trained by Sue Grills, won the Cup and Capitano steamed home for Jacob Perrett to beat the brave Floral Insight in the Shorts Handicap.

Monashee Woods gave Grills her third Cup win, having previously won with Double The Ton and track record holder Usain Prince. Winning jockey Sophie Young is apprenticed to Grills and won last year’s cup on Wolfgang’s Boy, so both ladies were familiar with the presentation area at Inverell.

The Goodwood Cup on Boxing Day was won by Miss Caitlyn, trained at Grafton and occasionally at Glen Innes by Paddy Cunningham. It gave him a winning double, followed by a pair of seconds on the day.

The club reported a highly successful day on Boxing Day, which was promoted with a ‘reunion’ theme and attracted a crowd that could best be described as ‘under thirty and over thirsty’. 

Club secretary, Leanne Brown confirmed the bar takings on Boxing Day were on a par with previous years at about $50,000, and the gate takings were more than $20,000. 

“The New Year’s Day figures were roughly half the Boxing Day turnover, and we are happy with the reunion promotion and the big response to the ‘classy’ theme to fashions in the field, particularly on Boxing Day,” Brown said.

Club president, Don Bartlett said the club had tightened up the issue of proof of age wrist bands, and there was a strong security presence at the course entrance, and throughout the day and evening. 

“We were satisfied with crowd behaviour, particularly as there was close police supervision at all times,” Bartlett said.

There was a greater emphasis on the horse flesh when the Fencing Northwest Inverell Cup field was led out by Perth Cup winner Black Tycoon, looking resplendent in his satin rug. The $30,000 Cup was the highlight of eight races covered Australia-wide by the TAB.

Bartlett said there had been some concern that the TV and TAB agency broadcast of racing could have been disrupted by the dispute between Sky Channel and TVN because it could have hurt Inverell’s betting turnover.

“Our races were eventually broadcast as part of the first day of the new arrangements, but no one, including us, knew what was happening beforehand and this uncertainty doesn’t help,” Bartlett said. 

“At least we know the races were shown in Melbourne, as club supporter Dave Stewart got a phone call during the day from a customer in Melbourne saying he was watching the races and spotted Stewart Grain Trading as a sponsor. 

“We are grateful to all the sponsors and we are already working on entertainment for another sponsors’ night in March.”

Bartlett said the club was very happy with the carnival.

“Lots of visitors and officials complimented the staff for the state of the track and the way it was presented. In any club you can’t please everyone, but we feel we are heading in the right direction,” Bartlett said.