After missing out on last year’s race day due to the heat, Condobolin Picnic Race Club will welcome a return to racing on Saturday.
There is $46,000 in prize money to be won on the six-race picnic program, which will be headlined by the $11,000 Inland Petroleum Condobolin Cup (1400m).
With a kinder weather forecast on the cards for Saturday’s meeting, Condobolin Picnic Race Club secretary Joy Gibson said her club was ready to put last year behind them ahead of what will be a big day on and off the track.
“It’s all pretty good at the moment, and we’re ready for Saturday,” Gibson told NSW Country and Picnic Racing.
“It was a terrible day last year, and we had bushfires. We didn’t race because of the precited hot temperature; it did end up being a shocking day.
“That’s all under the bridge now as we prepare for the weekend, and we’re looking forward to it. It’s going to be a great day.”
Gibson said the track and grounds were in top-notch order in anticipation of a good program of racing and a large crowd of local and visiting racegoers.
“It’s good; we’ve been working on the track, and the grounds are beautiful, lovely, and green,” Gibson said.
Making it a big weekend for the club, with the town expected to benefit from the economic boon associated with these popular once-a-year race days, Condobolin will host a Calcutta on Friday night, commencing at 6.30 pm at the racetrack.
On Saturday, racing will be in the spotlight, but there will be fashions on the field, a $500 lucky race book prize, the TAB, bookmakers, and bar facilities.
There’s also music after the last, with Ballz and All performing, meaning patrons have a good reason to back a winner or two before dancing the night away.
“It’s a pretty important event for the town,” Gibson said.
“We’ve only got two events, the races and the show, and we’ll get a lot of people coming.
“It’s just a good country picnic race meeting.”
For those fancying a punt, some 49 horses have been entered to race, with reigning NSW picnic trainer of the year Connie Greig nominating 13 chances, while NSW picnic racing stalwart Rodney Robb has seven entered.
Adding interest to the meeting is Wangaratta visitor Dan McCarthy, who will race up to four chances on the day.
Readers can click here for a complete list of nominations. The final fields will be published on Thursday morning.
For more on the race day, click here.
For the NSW Picnic Champion Series leaderboard, click here.
For the 2024 NSW Picnic Racing calendar, click here.
