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By Mark Brassel

Christmas Day arrives early for Murrumbidgee Turf Club with one of Wagga’s favourite meetings held on Friday.

As it’s the last Friday before Christmas Day, Wagga’s Ted Ryder Cup Day is always a very popular program with the punters as well as on-course patrons.

“This is the 30th running of the Belmont Pest Control Ted Ryder Cup which is an open handicap [1600m] and carries $36,000 in prizemoney,” said Murrumbidgee Turf Club’s CEO, Jason Ferrario.

It's always a great day out at Wagga races. Image by Wagga Advertiser

“The race always draws a strong field and was won in 2022 by one of the Southern Districts’ leading horses, the Wagga/Gary Colvin-trained Another One who has now won more than $1 million in prizemoney.

“This is our Club’s feature summer race that honours the doyen of country racing journalists and racecallers.

“Ted Ryder was the long-time Sports Editor at the Wagga Daily Advertiser Newspaper and was also the racecaller at Wagga for more than three decades, calling more than 30 Wagga Gold Cups.

“There will be eight compelling races on the program with the first race jumping at 1:30pm and gates opening at 12:30pm.

“The race card will also be the MTC’s first hosting of a $50,000 Super Maiden [1000m] which will attract an excellent line-up.”

One of the other feature races is the $27,000 Riverina Mechanical Open Handicap (1200m) that has already attracted some handy sprinters including three-time Wagga winner Demanding Mo.

“We’ll have live entertainment to keep patrons entertained between races and after the last event,” Mr Ferrario said.

“And the course proper will be back in action having undergone a major sand grooving renovation in early November, a process that helps racetrack drainage.

“Ted Ryder Cup Day is one of the MTC’s favourite racedays of the year as it not only honours a legend of racing in the Riverina but falls on the Friday before Christmas, so everyone is in a festive mood.

“For most of the business houses in the area it’s the last day of work for 2023.

“And in some cases, doors close at lunchtime and what better a place to kick off the Christmas break than an afternoon at the MTC with great racing, live entertainment and a few well-earned beverages.

“Better still, you can sit back and relax on the weekend with two days to prepare for Christmas Day!”

Nominations for Belmont Pest Control Ted Ryder Cup Day close at 11am on Monday 18 December.

It’s also a big Friday, some 1200km away in Lismore where they have their Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service Fundraiser that features the $27,000 Christmas Cup (1400m).

Lismore Turf Club’s gates open at 11am and 100% of gate profits are being donated to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.

A live DJ will be spinning the beats in the Xmas Party Enclosure, while a jumping castle and waterslide for the kids will provide fun for the entire family.

UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Monday: Kempsey, Bathurst
Tuesday: Scone
Wednesday: Queanbeyan
Friday: Wagga, Lismore
Saturday: Dubbo
Sunday: Taree, Tamworth