Mainly through the labour of president Peter Tanner, the club has replaced old aluminum rail and steel uprights with a molded plastic design for horse and jockey safety.

The rail is designed to flex if horses contact the rail during the race but will break in a high impact collision reducing the risk of serious injury.

It is 40 years since the Inverell Times of January 9, 1979 reported the erection of the modern aluminum rail to replace the dangerous and inflexible wooden rails with the then president Mike Lyne in charge.

Lyne is still a member of the club 40 years on and was on hand to check out the final stages of the new rail's installation last week before it was inspected and approved by the racing stewards.

The club has also upgraded the displays for TAB betting in the covered betting area and completed substantial painting and improvements in the toilets and amenities areas.

Saturday's racing will feature the club's ladies day promotion with gold coin entry and complimentary champagne on arrival, cash draws during the day and the opportunity to enjoy the "barrier experience".

Racegoers can nominate to be chauffeured to the race start and witness the horses and jockeys up close in the race barriers and then follow the field as the horses race to the post.

With the football season drawing to an end for most codes the club is hopeful the reduced entry cost, sunny weather and exciting racing will attract a bright crowd.

Metropolitan races feature the first Group One race of the season with the highlight at Randwick now named the WINX Stakes after the champion mare recently retired with a record breaking $26.4 million in earnings.

IJC members will this week receive their membership renewals and notice of the AGM to be held at the racecourse on September 15.