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By Mark Brassel

Tomorrow’s ANZAC Day provides a popular way to spend the afternoon with four country racecourses planning race programs that include remembrance services.

One of the feature meetings is Bathurst Thoroughbred Racing’s Soldier’s Saddle along with racedays at Armidale and Nyngan.

“Bathurst’s Soldier’s Saddle meeting is one of our biggest racedays of the year and the Club is looking forward to what has become a true Bathurst tradition,” said Michelle Tarpenning, GM for BTR.

Zouologist (Mikayla Weir) takes out last year's Soldier's Saddle at Bathurst. Image by Janian McMillan (Racing Photography)

“We will have food stalls, live music, a Fashions on the Field and, of course, we'll be honouring Australian soldiers with an official ceremony from Bathurst RSL.”

Murrumbidgee Turf Club kicks off a day earlier at Wagga with its ANZAC Day eve race meeting this afternoon.

MTC’s CEO, Jason Ferrario said: “We’ll be hoping to attract current and ex-service personnel to the ANZAC eve race meeting.

“We will offer them free entry and we’re donating half of our gate entry to a nominated charity that assists service personnel.

“The entire raceday is sponsored by our long-term sponsors Kooringal Stud and the meeting heralds our Cup Carnival.

“There are three races on the card that offer ballot exemption to Cup Carnival races on Thursday and Friday week.”

These events are the Kooringal Stud Murrumbidgee Cup (exempt from D & S Taber Electrical Wagga Gold Cup), Kooringal Stud Town Plate Prelude (Iron Jack Wagga Town Plate) and the Prized Icon MTC Guineas Prelude (JRC Electrical MTC Guineas).

“Our ANZAC Day eve meeting comprises of a total of $270,000 in prizemoney with the entire Wagga Cup Carnival carrying a massive $1.2 million in prizemoney.

“This year’s Wagga Gold Cup Carnival promises to be one of the most successful in the MTC’s history judging by pre-sale hospitality tickets,” Ferrario declared.

Muswellbrook Race Club stages its Jerrys Plains Cup Day on Friday, with the Club celebrating with the Jerrys Plains community in their bi-centennial celebrations of 200 years.

The day is a Racing NSW Country Showcase meeting offering $260,000 in prizemoney, with live entertainment in the pristine gardens with Red Rock Music and musician Kevin O’Hara.

A free bus service for the Jerrys Plains community will collect racegoers at 11:30am from the Jerrys Plains Tavern.

Feature race is the $35,000 Lone Pine Charge along with two major ‘kindergarten’ races the $25,000 Miss Finland for fillies, and the $25,000 Star Kingdom for colts and geldings aged two.

These two 1000m events have been highly successful in attracting some top-shelf young gallopers in the past.

The winner of the Lone Pine Charge is presented with a unique perpetual trophy of an 18-pounder artillery round.

Meanwhile, Sapphire Coast Turf Club races next Sunday (1st May) with its Club Sapphire Clubs Pubs Cars and Dance Raceday.

“We’ll have a seven-race TAB meeting with historic cars on display and dance demonstrations,” said Jess O’Donnell, SCTC’s sponsorship & marketing coordinator.

“We have a Rockabilly theme and its half-price entry for those that dress up in that theme.

“For Rockabilly fans its the perfect time to visit the Sapphire Coast as following our raceday is a whole week of Rockabilly at Tathra Beachside, so get your dancing shoes on!

“The raceday is proudly sponsored by Club Sapphire, Tathra Beach Bowlo, Tura Beach Country Club, Bermagui Country Club, Merimbula RSL and Club Bega.”

UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Today: Wagga, Port Macquarie
Monday: Armidale, Bathurst Nyngan
Tuesday: Nowra
Thursday: Narromine
Friday: Grafton, Muswellbrook
Saturday: Casino, Leeton (non-TAB), Warialda (non-TAB), Binnaway (non-TAB), Boorowa picnics (non-TAB)
Sunday: Sapphire Coast, Bathurst