Racing NSW needs to invest more funds into coastal holiday race meetings

The huge crowds flocking to these venues over Christmas-New Year deserve to see horse racing in a better light, not with fields as low as three runners.

Better fields not only entice more betting but provide excitement which can “blood” newcomers, being at the races for the first time, into the sport of kings.

Meetings at Wauchope, Port Macquarie and Bowraville, all having an influx not only of locals but entertainment hungry holiday makers, are suffering from small fields and an injection of more prizemoney looks to be the only way to lure trainers, owners and jockeys to support them.

The iconic Woop Woop Cup meeting on Boxing Day was a huge success but for only having 18 starters, five from outside the Mid North Coast Association, the $9000 cup fielding only four runners, with total prizemoney being $33,000.

Bowraville on the same day, unlike Wauchope, was a TAB meeting with six races, 35 starters (11 from the MNCRA), with total prizemoney being $62,000, the feature race of $12,000 having four runners, three from the MNCRA.

Port Macquarie’s non-TAB meeting on New Year’s Day had six races, worth $50,000, the feature cup event being worth $10,000, but of the 36 starters at the meeting, 17 were from outside the MNCRA.

All three clubs have crowds which register mostly as the best of any race meetings throughout the year but should prizemoney be lifted by Racing NSW, patrons would witness what racing is all about—competition and tight finishes, a great advertisement in itself to give an experience for newcomers wanting to enjoy the spectacle again.

 Wauchope’s home track was in splendid order, the big crowd was able to enjoy the country track with plenty of shade, man-made and erected for the occasion, a bank of five bookmakers (was six before one was called to Bowraville as bookies were needed) added colour and the convivial crowd, mainly the younger brigade, enjoyed the vibes.

One regular said the Fashions On The Field (23 ladies, a dozen gents) fielded more than most race clubs had on their big cup days.

And what about the betting!

One bookmaker held about $6000 on the four-horse Woop Woop Cup alone to show just how spirited things were in the betting ring.

Club president Greg Partridge said the first-time Calcutta-type raffle on the cup was expected to bring in about $1000 for distribution in prizes but in the end Jo Willmott, maiden name Rainford, from Melbourne, took home first prizemoney of $1450 (2nd was $415, 3rd $210) when Raining On Sunday won the cup for local trainer Colt Prosser and local apprentice jockey Mollie Partridge.

Those two were most happy to gain the most points to take home the inaugural $1000 bonus each provided by the club.

It shows that the club committees are doing their utmost to entertain patrons, trainers, owners and jockeys—Racing NSW should heed their splendid endeavours before it is too late!

One off occasions that attract record patronage should be enlivened not dudded.

Port Macquarie Race Club will host its traditional New Year’s Day race meeting on Tuesday.

While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from the Port Macquarie News. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, SIGN UP HERE.