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By Mark Brassel

Local hardware stores take note – Muswellbrook Race Club may require a can or two of WD-40 for Friday’s raceday!

The Club’s ‘Rusty Spanner’ race meeting is a very popular afternoon aimed at all the tradies in the region.

Muswellbrook's 'Rusty Spanner Sprint' trophy

“This is truly a great country race with a differentiated trophy of a rusty spanner,” said MRC’s GM, Trevor Taylor.

“And this year not only will the tradies win a prize, but the company that allows their tradies the day off will be able to nominate a charity and our Club will donate $1000 to the winner’s nominated charity.

“Tradie Andrew Thomas was the 2022 Sprint Champion so who will be the next reigning sprint tradie in 2023?

“Muswellbrook Steel Supplies sponsor the Rusty Spanner Sprint over 1000m and is worth $29,000.

“The race offers great differential perpetual trophy that every trainer and owner want to win with a rusty spanner on it.

“We then have a human tradie race over 100m on the main racetrack where various tradies all line up and sprint to the finish line to win some major prizes.

“With major mining companies like Bengalla and BHP in our region who employ thousands of trade employees, this truly has become a great community raceday.

“This year with MRC donates $1000 to a charity nominated by the winning trade runner’s company, and this just adds further value to a great community day where a charity also benefits.

“Our raceday is all around creating that great ‘experience’ and having a fun day by creating more winners in more ways.”

Also on Friday, Racing Orange hosts the annual Central West Power Construction Tradies & Ladies Day.

The Club will provide live entertainment with DJ Dave O'Hara, lucky door giveaways, a Fashions on the Field contest hosted by Cosmedic Collective, TAB facilities and on-site catering.

There will also be the ‘Coopers Brewing Tradies & Ladies Dash’ with some fantastic prizes on offer.

Bong Bong picnic races are on Friday with the ‘members only’ meeting conducted at ‘Wyeera’ east of Bowral.

Two bars will be operating with EFTPOS facilities and bookmakers with Rotary running a BBQ.

On Saturday Hay Jockey Club is confident of getting one of their biggest crowds in years.

“People in the bush have been experiencing hardship and that’s why the races are so important – it gives everyone a chance to let their hair down,” said Cam Clark, HJC’s President.

“People have their Christmas parties, and everyone is talking about the races; we generally attract a pretty young demographic as this is a great time of year.”

Hay will also have over $12,500 in prizes on offer for the Fashions on the Field.

UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Monday: Scone
Friday: Muswellbrook, Orange, Bong Bong picnics (non-TAB)
Saturday: Inverell, Bowraville (non-TAB), Cowra (non-TAB), Hay (non-TAB)
Sunday: Grafton