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By Mark Brassel

Many in the Riverina town of Gundagai will be raising a glass or two on Friday in recognition of the popular sports radio and TV broadcaster/commentator, the late David Morrow.

David Morrow OAM, nicknamed ‘Thirsty’, died in July and was considered ‘Mr Versatile’ spending 44 years commentating on the NRL, he covered eight Olympics and six Commonwealth Games, and was a highly regarded cricket, horse racing and harness racing commentator.

The much-loved David Morrow

In recognition, Gundagai-Adelong Racing Club has programmed a new $50,000 race ‘The David Morrow Country Magic’ that will be held during Friday’s Snake Gully Cup Day.

“David loved the Gundagai community and the community loved David,” explained GARC Committeeman, David Nolan.

“David was an honorary Gundagaiarian, a bolted-on Tiger supporter and a fixture at the Snake Gully Cup Carnival.

“David Morrow started coming to Gundagai in the early 1990s to attend the Ex-Tiger Players Sportsman Dinner held during Snake Gully Cup time.

“David would go out of his way to bring guest speakers and auction prizes and some of the speakers were Cathy Freeman, Duncan Armstrong, Alan McGilvray, Doug Walters and Alan Davidson.

“It was all done at his own expense and in his own his time and over the years substantial money was raised and distributed to Gundagai sporting clubs and the general Gundagai community.

“David never missed the Snake Gully Cup and even planned family holidays and family birthday dinners around the dates; Gundagai lost a true friend and one who will be sorely missed yet never forgotten.

“He is survived by wife Kristine and their daughters Emily and Lucy, so we’re thrilled they will be attending the Snake Gully Cup Calcutta and be on-course to present the trophies to the winning connections of The David Morrow.”

There'll be some great racing action at Gundagai on Friday & Saturday

Friday’s feature race is the $100,000 XXXX Gold Snake Gully Cup (1400m) that carries eligibility to the $3 million Big Dance at Royal Randwick in November 2025.

The race takes its name from the famous “Dad and Dave” radio program with the popularity, prizemoney and prestige of the Cup Carnival growing dramatically in recent years.

Other support races are the $50,000 Bellette’s Bulk Bins The Tuckerbox (1000m) and the $50,000 TAB Showcase Super Maiden (1180m).

Thousands of racegoers converge each year to Gundagai for the two excellent racedays that include Fashions on the Field and plenty of family fun.

Prizes in the FOTF are provided by sponsors the DOMA Group, Flash Jack’s Boutique Hotel, Nimbo Fork Lodge, milliner Carmel Butler Millinery, Whisk and Dish Tumut.

General admission is $25 with courtesy buses provided to and from the racecourse and a big screen infield.

Saturday’s race meeting is ‘Hair of the Dog Day’, taken from the colloquial saying “the hair of the dog that bit you”.

The day is fast becoming a classic of country racing and is a great follow up to Friday’s Snake Gully Cup with admission $15 and courtesy buses available with the main event the $34,000 Gundagai District Services Club Hair of the Dog over 1800m.

UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Monday: Scone, Lismore
Tuesday: Queanbeyan
Thursday: Port Macquarie, Quirindi
Friday: Gundagai, Ballina
Saturday: Gundagai, Bathurst
Sunday: Taree, Wellington