Latest News

By Mark Brassel

Country race club bosses around the State will be watching on with great interest during tomorrow’s inaugural running of the $2 million The Big Dance at Royal Randwick.

The field of 20 runners is comprised of 18 country cup winners, along with the Big Dance Wildcard winner Cisco Bay and runner-up Wicklow.

The race has garnered significant attention right around the state and beyond since being introduced by Racing NSW in February and has also raised the profile of NSW’s country cups.

Rustic Steel (Kerrin McEvoy) grabs his place in tomorrow's The Big Dance by taking out The Scone Cup. Image by Bradley Photographers

Steven Keene, CEO of Scone Race Club will be supporting Rustic Steel ($11 on TAB) who took out the Scone Cup in May to gain his ticket to The Big Dance.

“We are excited to have the Kris Lees-trained Rustic Steel from the Darley Scone Cup Carnival as Scone Race Club’s hopeful.

“Kris is a great supporter of the club, and we will be getting behind the horse and cheering loudly.

“The Big Dance initiative has been a terrific concept by Racing NSW that provides further opportunity for country race clubs to promote country cups throughout regional NSW.

“As a country race club CEO, I have seen The Big Dance qualifiers throughout the regions bring additional interest from both the local and broader communities and further afield, that promotes a positive economic impact for both the club and the community.

“The Big Dance is fantastic for country racing owners, participants and patrons, and will only continue to grow.

“Scone Race Club is looking forward to having a representative in a $2 million race on one of the biggest days on the racing calendar at Royal Randwick – we cannot wait.”

Likewise, Tweed River Jockey Club is thrilled to be included in the Big Dance after the Murwillumbah Cup parachuted local trainer Matthew Dunn’s galloper Impasse ($41 on TAB) into The Big Dance.

Timothy Booth, TRJC’s CEO said: “The timing of The Big Dance qualifier on the Tweed River was the perfect opportunity post-COVID for a country club like ours to engage the community with an offer greater than the regular race meeting.

“Participation from some of Australia’s leading trainers and The Big Dance qualifier gave country racegoers the opportunity to witness some of the nation’s best up and coming horses in their own backyard.

“From the Club’s perspective, the meeting leveraging off the back of this initiative was nothing but a raging success with record attendance, fantastic on-course revenue and prizemoney and a huge Calcutta pool all testament to how The Big Dance qualifiers captured the interest of the Tweed community.

“That has continued after a popular local win for Matthew Dunn. Murwillumbah will be rocking on Big Dance Day as everyone trackside gets behind our local hope Impasse.

“Our club has embraced The Big Dance and we are very excited to see what the 2023 edition brings for our community.”

Jason Ferrario, CEO of Murrumbidgee Turf Club at Wagga, said: “From the day Peter V’landys and Racing NSW made The Big Dance announcement, interest and discussion within our region has been extremely positive about the opportunity to race for more than $1 million first prizemoney.

“Our club is delighted that another opportunity had been created to further promote country racing with the Chris Waller-trained Aleas ($21 on TAB) having won the Wagga Gold Cup.

“Country Racing has been through tough times due to COVID and on the back of The Big Dance, Murrumbidgee Turf Club was able conduct a record-breaking Cup Carnival financially, on the back of a huge crowd and very strong betting turnover.

“Hospitality bookings were also at an all-time high and the lucky winners of our 100 Club Draw (giving them naming rights to our Gold Cup Carnival), D & S Taber Electrical, were also stoked that The Big Dance concept gave them further exposure.

“The Wagga Gold Cup, raced at Listed level and for $200,000 prizemoney, always draws a strong field, with many visiting high-profile trainers and jockeys.

“This year, the ‘extra carrot’ of a chance to compete in a $2m race over the famed Royal Randwick mile on one of Australia’s grandest racedays, helped us drive the excitement of Gold Cup time.

“Our club will watch on with great interest as Aleas puts on his dancing shoes on November 1. This gives Murrumbidgee Turf Club another great opportunity to engage with our social media community and promote racing in NSW.”

Tamworth Jockey Club’s GM, Michael Buckley said: “Tamworth Racecourse will be a hive of activity on Tuesday November 1 as we celebrate the inaugural Big Dance Raceday, both on our track and at Royal Randwick.

“We will be cheering two chances in the race. Firstly, our locally trained Beckford ($151 on TAB) who qualified for the race back in December 2021 by winning the Armidale Cup that was transferred to Tamworth.

“And secondly, the 2022 Tamworth Cup winner Bandersnatch ($10 on TAB). This year’s Tamworth Cup attracted a full field, huge crowd and our largest day of wagering on record.”

View The Big Dance field with full form & race replays for Royal Randwick here