RACING fans across the region are rejoicing as the Spring Racing Carnival draws closer.
For Balranald Racing Club, spring means the time is close for the annual Cox Plate meeting in October.
On Saturday, October 28, Greenham Park will host its second meeting of the year.
Club secretary Sarah Old said the upcoming event had been moved forward from its former slot in the first weekend of November.
“These races are all run off the back of the spring carnival,” she said. “There’s a fair bit of racing fever going around during that time.
“We were clashing with the Wycheproof races, so hopefully we’ll have bigger fields of horses racing as well as a bigger crowd.
“We’ll give that a go and see how it works out. Hopefully it shouldn’t overlap with anything else at that time.”
Ms Old said that while Balranald was seeing strong growth, external circumstances made it hard to tell just how much the race meetings had grown.
“It’s really hard to tell just how much the races are growing, but we did have a really big (Balranald Cup) meet in March,” she said.
“Each of our meets over the last few years have either been impacted by COVID-19 or the floods, so we had a lot of people who were unable to make it here.
“Hopefully we can move forward from those time, we’re just all crossing our fingers that hopefully the cards will fall our way.
“Balranald is really powering ahead at the moment, there’s a fair bit of industry coming to town, which I think is getting everyone around town pretty pumped up.”
While catering for racing fanatics, Ms Old said the event was also a fantastic day out for families, sporting clubs and other groups.
“We have people come from far and wide, obviously there’s a big racing community that comes to follow their horses,” she said.
“There is also a big social gathering aspect that people love, which we are hoping will be even bigger than we’ve had in the past.
“We try to have lots of kids’ activities, things like face-painting and jumping castles. It’s really a fantastic day out for the whole family.
“It’s a great day for sporting groups as well, to be able to celebrate the end of their seasons. We encourage all groups to come along and enjoy the day.
“We also have private marquees and gazebo packages available for purchase, which are situated in a nice, shady grassed area.
“Attendees will be able to enjoy some amazing live entertainment on the day as well.
“We’re a pretty unique racing meet. We have a nice, grassed track and some lovely shady trees. It’s really a just a beautiful day for the community.”
Families will be even happier with entry to the race day free for people under 15, while admission can still be booked, with tickets starting at $25.
The meeting starts at 11am.
For more information about the Balranald Racing Club’s Cox Plate day meet, check out the club’s Facebook page.
