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By Mark Brassel

The folk from the small township of Harden in the Riverina region will breathe a sigh of relief with some perfect weather predicted this week.

Harden picnic races will be celebrating its 40th annual meeting on Saturday that coincides with Spring Champion Stakes Day at Royal Randwick.

Luck has not been with Harden as the past couple of years their annual picnic meeting has been washed out – but not this year.

“This is the biggest and best event on Harden’s social calendar,” said Nathan Schofield, president of Harden District Picnic Race Club.

“The meeting is well-supported by visitors from all over the state with some superb country hospitality assured.

“It is a family friendly event with rides, amusements and multiple food and drinks outlets available.

“The Fashions on Field is sponsored by Bendigo Bank and carries $2500 in cash prizes and marquee bookings are still available.

“We will have DJ Liv ‘releasing the sounds’ on course between 4pm and 7pm.

“And then there’s a VIP event commencing at 7pm with music by Wagga band The Mighty Yak which is strictly for over 18s.

“We’ll have ATM and Eftpos facilities available on course with a TAB along with Sky Channel and local and interstate bookmakers.

“Gates open at 11am with a six-event race card and the first race jumps around 1pm.

“There is also a courtesy bus operating to and from the racecourse but strictly no BYO. Racegoers can visit Eventbrite.com.au for ticketing.”

Meanwhile, 150km south east of Harden is Queanbeyan where they will stage Showcase Cup Day on Sunday.

“It will truly be a great day of country racing on the doorstep of the nation’s capital,” said Brendan Comyn, CEO of Queanbeyan Racing Club.

“Live music will entertain the crowd during the day and the children will be able to bounce around at their leisure on the jumping castle.

“We will also see our first $50,000 Super Maiden Showcase Plate (1000m) complementing the Country Showcase status with $295,000 in prizemoney up for grabs.

“It is an eight-race card that includes the $35,000 Thunderbolt over 1000m as well as the $35,000 Golden Bullet, this year a Benchmark 66 over 1000m for three and four-year-olds.

“Our club has been busy over the winter break with a new fully automated irrigation system being installed on course.

“This is a major labour saver and a big improvement to our water utilisation assets at Queanbeyan.

“The funding has come from the NSW State Government via Crown Lands and is a dramatic improvement on the antique tow line system that it has replaced.”

UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Monday: Muswellbrook, Wagga
Tuesday: Grafton
Friday: Scone, Bathurst
Saturday: Albury, Armidale, Mudgee (non-TAB), Balranald (non-TAB), Casino (non-TAB), Harden picnics (non-TAB)
Sunday: Queanbeyan, Taree