FINAL preparations are being made at the Wentworth Showgrounds for a big return to country racing to the town.
The annual Wentworth Races are always a smash hit each Melbourne Cup Day, and the Wentworth District Racing Club is hoping this year can be bigger and better than ever.
The day includes five-race meet headlined by the $17,000 Wentworth Cup which is set to jump at 3.20pm.
While the public holiday doesn’t work its way into the calendar for those across the border, the Wentworth Races are a big day out at the Showgrounds.
An anticipated crowd of about 1000 are set to come through the gates for day of fun and dirt track horse racing.
The club takes pride in the family-friendly nature of the day, with plenty of children’s activities including carnival games, face-painting and jumping castle available.
For the adults, TAB facilities and bookmakers are on course, alongside bar services and food vans.
Finding the best dressed is always part of the fun at country races, and with five fashions on the field categories, that will be no different this year.
A surge in membership over the past 12 months has seen the Wentworth District Racing Club reach 160, up from about 100 in previous years.
On Sunday a big final working bee saw more than 40 volunteers roll up their sleeves to ensure the venue is prepared for the big day.
Club president Breeon Cole said preparations were coming along nicely.
“The grounds are looking amazing, the council have done a fantastic job getting it all up to scratch,” she said.
“The race track has been worked up nicely and is looking really good for the day.
“Our committee has 13 members but for today’s major working bee there’s up to 40 people here scattered around the grounds putting things together.
“About a month after the Wentworth Show we get access to the grounds and we start to put the water truck around to stop all the compaction, and then in the last two weeks we’ve been constantly going around with the water truck and the harrows.
“We don’t get the public holiday on this side of the river but we do try and entice families to come along and we get a lot of kids on the day which is good to see.
“It’s a great event for the community and a lot of people come and support it which is always fantastic.”
Shuttle buses will be available on Tuesday to the grounds from the Wentworth township, while those across the river can book a place on a charter bus to make the trip over the George Chaffey Bridge.
