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By Mark Brassel

Former racecaller Alan Thomas will be the special guest of Moree Race Club during next week’s Father’s Day weekend.

Although Thomas was widely known as a Thoroughbred racecaller, he was a Jack-of-all-Trades having also called 15 State of Origin matches and world championship boxing, as well as golf and cricket during a career spanning 46 years.

There'll be some great racing action at Moree on Sunday. Image by Bradley Photographers

Last year Thomas was awarded an OAM for his services to horse racing.

Thomas will feature during Moree’s charity dinner and auction held at the racecourse on Saturday night with some impressive auction items up for grabs and a long list of raffle prizes.

“We will be staging a major fund-raising weekend on September 3 and 4 for Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service in conjunction with the running of a Country Showcase meeting featuring the Moree Cup,” said MRC’s Michelle Gobbert.

“From the Fashions on the Field sponsored by Beauty Matters to a Moree Cup Calcutta the race meeting will provide a great day out.

“Patrons can enjoy the atmosphere at the Chopper Club marquee and there’ll be kids’ face painting and a courtesy bus operating to and from the racetrack.”

Tickets for both the Saturday night dinner with a three-course meal by Relish Catering and Sunday’s raceday are on sale online through the link on the club’s website or directly through – trybooking.com

Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service New England and north-west event co-ordinator, Jeff Galbraith said: “It will be great to be back again after the last two years that were affected by COVID restrictions. This weekend has grown into a very significant fundraiser for our service.”

As a Racing NSW Country Showcase meeting, minimum prizemoney for each Moree race is $30,000 with a total of $280,000 on offer.

Feature is the $55,000 SOS Phone Repairs & Accessories Moree Cup (1400m) supported by the $35,000 Moree Town Plate (950m).

“Few country clubs can boast that the winner of their Cup has gone on to win the richest race in Australia for country horses,” Gobbert pointed out.

“Belflyer won our 2017 Moree Cup then the following year took out the inaugural Kosciuszko at Randwick where he snared $685,000 for his connections.”

And following huge prizemoney increases by Racing NSW, Moree will also run two races restricted to NSW Country-trained horses carrying $35,000 in prizemoney.

Meanwhile, Mendooran Turf Club will be back racing on Saturday, having missed out last year due to COVID.

The Club has a six-race program with bar and food facilities along with a free courtesy bus to and from the racecourse.

There will be a Fashions on the Field as well as a jumping castle, face painting and other activities for the children. There’s also a free camping area.

On another note, Dubbo Turf Club announced they will honour one of western racing’s most iconic figures with the inaugural Greg Ryan Medal to be awarded to the most successful jockey on Dubbo Gold Cup Day.

Ryan officially retired from race riding in June 2021, having ridden his last race at Mudgee in December of 2020.

He is credited with having ridden 4035 winners throughout his career, placing him second behind Robert Thompson in the Australian racing record books.

“As a board we wanted to find a way to recognise Greg’s illustrious career, while noting that he has never been a person keen to seek the limelight,” said Dubbo Turf Club's president, Chris Davis.

“His record in the saddle is almost without peer and it will be a long time before we have someone from our region achieve a similar status in Australian racing history.”

UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Monday: Grafton, Tamworth
Tuesday: Nowra
Thursday: Albury, Muswellbrook
Saturday: Grafton, Mendooran (non-TAB)
Sunday: Moree, Gundagai