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By Mark Brassel

There’ll be plenty of Irish luck floating around at Tuncurry on Friday with a fantastic race meeting planned.

“We held this meeting last year and it was so successful we had to do it all again,” said Garry McQuillan, president of Tuncurry-Forster Jockey Club.

The Tuncurry-Forster race meeting on Friday will offer $222,000 in prizemoney for the eight-race card

“We call it the ‘Luck of the Irish Raceday’ whereby many of our racegoers will dress in green with some excellent prizes to be won.

“We will have Irish bands playing including the popular Frohlich Bros in the Pavilion.

“There is a ‘Pot of Gold’ raffle with racegoers purchasing a $5 ticket and if they draw a horse and the horse wins the race, the ticket holder scores a $500 gift voucher at Occasions Jewellers.

“As well there is a promotion where we’ll be giving away two tickets to the Pavilion with food and drink included on XXXX Gold Cup Day [Friday 13th September].

“Patrons just need to fill in a coupon in the racebook and place it in the box to be drawn after the second last race. We will also run free buses to and from the racetrack.”

The following day is Louth races – one of the most unique outback race meetings in NSW located 818km north west of Sydney.

“People can capture the magic of the outback at one of the friendliest racedays in country NSW,” said Louth Turf Club’s Tegan Barton.

“It’s a big week in Louth village with a range of festivities including farm tours, morning teas, the Gundabooka Golf Challenge on Wednesday and a Damper and Scone Bake Off on Thursday.

“One of the main events is on Friday evening, the Calcutta, with tickets on sale at Shindy’s Inn from late afternoon and as a guide, last year’s pool was a massive $25,600.

“We have a seven-race program with prizemoney of over $100,000 plus trophies and sashes.

“Sky will be operating for off-course and interstate punters, and we’ll have all the usual raceday elements such as local bookies, a TAB van, bar, morning and afternoon tea, various lunch and dinner options, fashions and novelty events.”

Meanwhile, Goulburn & District Race Club has announced a new naming rights partner, Goulburn Mulwaree Council, for the $200,000 Goulburn Cup run in three weeks’ time (25 August).

The club’s CEO Robyn Fife said the new partnership is a natural fit between the two organisations and one with multiple long-term benefits.

“We are excited to welcome Goulburn Mulwaree Council and its 'Goulburn Australia' brand on board as a major partner for our feature day of the racing calendar.

“The club has a long history of working closely the Council and this announcement adds another commercial layer to an already bona fide strong relationship.”

Ms. Fife said that the partnership features several extended benefits for both the race club and the Council.

The Cup is ideally positioned 10 weeks out from the $3 million Big Dance to be held at Royal Randwick on Tuesday 5th November with the Cup winner earning eligibility.

UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Monday: Lismore, Moruya
Tuesday: Gundagai, Quirindi
Thursday: Moree
Friday: Tuncurry
Saturday: Casino, Louth (non-TAB)
Sunday: Wagga, Dubbo