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By Jeff Hanson

Racing is alive and well in the Central Districts, highlighted by Dubbo Turf Club hosting a bumper 10-race-program on Friday.

Huge nominations and 158-acceptances led Racing NSW and the Dubbo Turf Club to the decision of splitting both the 1300m Maiden Handicap and 1300m Class One Handicap.

Dubbo Turf Club General Manager, Gavin Barlow, was stoked to see the support for the meeting before putting the praise back onto his hard-working track staff.

“I’m over the moon with the industry support for this meeting,” Barlow said. “Damien Johnstone our track manager and his team have done a great job to have the track looking the way it does.”

Dubbo raced three times in June, and despite big fields accompanied by wet weather, Barlow said the track, which is currently rated a soft seven with the rail out six metres, looked in very good order.

“I walked the track this morning and it’s in great nick,” Barlow said. “We raced on June 4, 11 and 27 and all three meetings started in the heavy and we have had nothing but rain in July.

“So, to see the number of nominations and to see the track where it is today, it’s a massive credit to track staff and to those industry participants for wanting to support us and race here.”

With the recent rise in prizemoney in NSW, it means there will be $240,000 on offer this Friday, which is massive for industry participants, especially considering there are no feature races on the day.

“There are full emergencies in every race and we have a 10-race-card, that is a quarter of million dollars on offer for the industry,” Barlow said.

“There are not many events in Dubbo where there is that much money on offer and that’s why I believe we are the most lucrative sport in the region and why we have seen such great support.”

Following Friday’s action-packed meeting, it looms as an important period for Dubbo Turf Club, who are readying for their Memorial Race Day on August 8 and their Gold Cup meeting on September 12.

Dubbo race fields for Friday (16th July)