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By Mark Brassel

Bowraville Racecourse will play host to the 10th anniversary of a much-loved raceday – the Phillip Hughes Memorial afternoon on Saturday.

Phillip Hughes was an outstanding cricketer who passed away aged 25 following an accident at the SCG when struck on the neck by a bouncer.

Phillip, born in nearby Macksville, was a talented rugby league player having played alongside Greg Inglis, before making cricket his A game.

Racing at Bowraville will be a focus on Saturday for the Phillip Hughes Memorial Day

He scored his first Test century aged 20 in South Africa when he belted 115 runs and in the second innings of that match scored 160, becoming the youngest cricketer to score centuries in both innings of a Test match.

There’s even a road bridge named after Phillip Hughes on the Pacific Highway over the Nambucca River near his hometown of Macksville.

So, it is only fitting that Nambucca River Jockey Club honours him with the Macksville & District Ex-Services Club Phillip Hughes Memorial Cup.

“Phillip Hughes would regularly attend the races at Bowraville when his busy cricket schedule permitted,” said NRJC’s secretary/manager, Trevor Wood.

“He enjoyed meeting his mates here for a relaxed day out at the races, so we’re pleased to continue this event in his memory.”

The Phillip Hughes Memorial Flying (1000m) headlines the six-race community program.

“There’ll be plenty of entertainment, a Fashions on the Field and free buses from Stuarts Point, Scotts Head, Macksville, Nambucca Heads and the Bowraville Hotel.

“If you like country racing, this is an event not to be missed where we have great mountain views with the course having slight undulations making the racing interesting.”

Earlier in the week it’s the Tatts Hotel Inverell Cup and Inverell Shorts race meeting on New Year’s Day (Wednesday), after the Club staged a successful Boxing Day meeting last Thursday.

And one of the highlights is the Inverell Cup Calcutta on Tuesday night at Inverell Sporties with entertainment including a phantom call.

Then to Wednesday’s Inverell meeting that features a Fashions on the Field and an eight-race Racing NSW Showcase program offering $285,000 in prizemoney.

Feature races are the $45,000 Inverell Cup (1400m), $30,000 Inverell Shorts (1050m) and the $50,000 Brian Baldwin Super Maiden (1400m).

Next Sunday is Gilgandra Cup Day featuring the $50,000 Gilgandra Cup (1600m), $35,000 Gilgandra Town Plate (1100m) and $50,000 Super Maiden (1280m).

The eight-race card is also a Country Showcase program with $295,000 in prizemoney.

It all kicks off on Saturday night with the Gilgandra Cup Calcutta from 6pm at Gilgandra RSL.

It’s free entry with special guests Sky Racing experts Mick Wallace, Tim Moses and Ben Walker, along with racecaller Col Hodges who will conduct a phantom call of the Cup.

Wagga raced on Christmas Eve and backs up on Friday with an eight-race sponsors day featuring the $50,000 Jaegers Event Hire Super Maiden (1200m), the $30,000 Ridley Wool Co Country Boosted Maiden (1600m) and $30,000 Tooheys Country Boosted Handicap (1400m).

UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Monday: Coffs Harbour, Orange
Tuesday: Nowra
Wednesday: Inverell, Gundagai
Thursday: Muswellbrook
Friday: Wagga, Port Macquarie
Saturday: Bowraville
Sunday: Gilgandra, Lismore