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By Mark Brassel

The Weather Gods will play a crucial role in determining if several NSW race meetings proceed this weekend including Wagga and Nowra.

Murrumbidgee Turf Club will host their popular Kurrajong Raceday at Wagga on Saturday with Shoalhaven Turf Club rolling out Mollymook Cup Day on Sunday.

MTC’s CEO, Jason Ferrario, said the Club has its fingers crossed having been hit – like many NSW regions – by massive rainfall this year.

Wagga draws an excellent crowd on Kurrajong Cup Day

“The track normally handles plenty of rain, but the problem is it just keeps coming; the water simply has nowhere to go,” Mr Ferrario explained.

“We are keen to stage Wagga Kurrajong Cup Day as this is our third biggest day of the year and we’re expecting around 4500 people.

“We used to run the day three weeks after Cup Day in May but moved it to October after the footy has finished and before the cricket starts.

“The day raises money for one of the worthiest charities in Wagga – Kurrajong is a local disability service, and they have a great committee.

“This is a long-running event, and they get huge sponsorship by selling packages. They also focus on children’s entertainment.”

STC at Nowra is pretty much in the ‘same boat’ with a heavy surface at present with their Mollymook Cup Day on the horizon next Sunday.

The Club’s CEO, Paul Weekes said: “It has not stopped raining in the past two or three days.

“I would suggest that we have had more than 100 mils in the past couple of days with more to come.

“Even though we have a week to go, given that our track is a sloppy bog and with the weather forecast, I am concerned whether we will be OK to race next weekend.

“It seems to be a representative story everywhere at the moment. That said, if it does go ahead Mollymook Cup Day is always a great afternoon on our racing calendar.

“We already have had plenty of bookings for umbrellas on the lawn and in other dining areas.

“This year we are also partnering up with Pink Up Berry and the McGrath Foundation with all proceeds from gate and umbrella package sales donated to the McGrath Foundation.

“We’re staging a Fashions on the Field with a pink theme and have plenty of prizes on offer. The meeting is fully sponsored with a free jumping castle for the kids.

“Hopefully it stops raining as we will need a few warm days prior to raceday to dry the track out and allow us to race,” Mr Weekes added.

UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Monday: Tamworth, Murwillumbah
Tuesday: Queanbeyan
Friday: Taree, Bathurst
Saturday: Wagga, Narromine, Bombala (non-TAB), Wauchope (non-TAB), Deniliquin (non-TAB), Inverell (non-TAB)
Sunday: Nowra, Lismore