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By Mark Brassel

The 10-day Tamworth Country Music Festival is in full swing and has been rated the second biggest country music festival in the world.

The vast number of visitors to the city brings significant tourism and economic benefits – and it also encompasses Tamworth Country Music Cup Day on Thursday.

Tamworth Jockey Club’s general manager Michael Buckley said: “Tamworth and surrounding areas come alive for the famous Country Music Festival.

Tamworth Country Music Cup Day is on Thursday

“This is the first time since COVID that the Country Music Festival has been held in its traditional January fixture.

“Accommodation has been sold out in Tamworth many months in advance and the caravans are already rolling in.

“Every entertainment venue in town has performers playing from 11am until late for the ten-day duration and the perfect escape from following bands during that period is to escape to the races!”

Tamworth Country Music Cup Day will have its own live music including entertainment by Freddie Bailey, a café and bar facilities as well as a kids’ jumping castle.

“Our club will be opening the gates for free entry but we ask patrons to consider a donation to Lifeline NSW who will be collecting on the day.”

The raceday is also a Racing NSW Country Showcase meeting offering $255,000 in prizemoney with the feature race the $30,000 Tamworth Country Music Cup, an open showcase handicap over 1200m.

The race has attracted a couple of interesting runners including Seguso and Bugalugs.

Seguso was formerly trained in Victoria and recorded two wins (including one at Moonee Valley) and four placings from nine starts before being transferred to local trainer Cody Morgan.

The gelding was beaten in a photo finish at his first NSW start when runner-up to Morgenstern at Warren last November, fighting on determinedly after being headed 150m from home.

Bugalugs is prepared at Scone by Scott Singleton and has been racing well in much stronger grades in the city with five of his past six outings in town.

Two starts back the seven-year-old darted away to defeat Godolphin galloper Huon at Canterbury Park (1250m) on 9 December.

Cody Morgan is likely to have a strong team on his home course with 17 gallopers nominated.

They include the well-named Broken Hill (out of Mining Tycoon) who was a first-up winner for the stable at Tamworth on Christmas Eve, having been transferred from Team Hawkes at Rosehill Gardens.

UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY MEETINGS
Monday: Muswellbrook, Queanbeyan
Tuesday: Wagga
Thursday: Tamworth
Friday: Port Macquarie
Saturday: Murwillumbah, Parkes, Deepwater (non-TAB)
Sunday: Grafton