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By Mark Brassel

One of the biggest country horse racing carnivals in Australia commences next Sunday with Grafton’s huge XXXX Gold July Racing Carnival.

The first of five outstanding race meetings in 15 days kicks off with the Kensei Club Community Prelude Raceday featuring the $30,000 John Carlton Quality (1175m).

Festivities start on Saturday night with the John Carlton Cup Calcutta at the Clocktower Hotel from 7:30pm. The following day is a community race meeting with free admission and kids’ activities with live music on the Westlawn throughout the afternoon with Tangle.

Deny Knowledge (Blake Shinn) takes out last year's Westlawn Finance Grafton Cup. Image by Trackside Photography 

On Saturday week (12 July) it’s a 7am start at Grafton Racecourse with a BBQ Breakfast and a live radio broadcast from the track.

The South Grafton Cup Calcutta is in the evening at South Grafton Ex-Servicemen’s Club from 7:30pm.

Next Sunday is Grafton Toyota South Grafton Cup Day with the $80,000 South Grafton Cup (1600m) a qualifying race for the $3 million Big Dance at Royal Randwick in November.

Sam Handford will be live on the Westlawn throughout the afternoon with heaps of free kids’ entertainment before live music after the last with popular piano duo Who’s Charlie.

A Barrier Draw Luncheon is on Monday 14 July at Grafton District Services Club with special guest speakers former top jockey Jim Cassidy and racing knockabout Glenn Munsie.

There will be a two-course meal and drinks from 11am prior to the Ramornie Handicap barrier draw, then on Tuesday 15 July a Ramornie Handicap Calcutta will be staged at GD Services Club from 7pm.

Wednesday 16 July is GDSC Ramornie Handicap Day highlighted by the $200,000 Listed-Ramornie Handicap (1200m) and the $80,000 Grafton Guineas (1600m).

Clarence River Jockey Club has buses operating to and from the racecourse for just $5 with more live music on the Westlawn throughout the afternoon with Sam Handford.

The festivities continue from 7pm on Wednesday with the Westlawn Finance Grafton Cup Calcutta, again at the Services Club.

The biggest day of the fortnight ‘racefest’ is on Thursday 17 July with the running of the $200,000 Westlawn Finance Grafton Cup (2350m) which is also a Big Dance qualifier. The Cup Day Fashions on the Field theme is ‘Purple Pearls’.

The Carnival then wraps up on Sunday 20 July with Maclean Bowling Club Maclean Cup Day with a Cup Calcutta on the Saturday night at Maclean Bowling Club (7pm) pre-raceday.

Meanwhile, some nine hours away this Saturday is the annual Duck Creek race meeting at Nyngan – one of the more popular picnic meetings in the State, as evident by the ticket sales.

“I can proudly report that in less than eight hours of being released, we sold nearly 3000 tickets and to put it into perspective, that’s more than the population of our little town of Nyngan!” declared Sarah Day, Secretary/Manager for Duck Creek Picnic Race Club.

“Our community is excited to welcome everyone and show off what we have to offer. The night before we’ll have the Duck Creek Calcutta with live music by Pete Riley at The Nyngan.

“And any intending racegoers should note there’s no tickets sold at the gate – they’re all sold through 123Tix.

“The big crowd always stays on after the final race with popular band The Filthy Animals belting out tunes followed by Furnace and the Fundamentals.”

Feature race is the Nyngan Picnic Cup (1250m) with major sponsor Inland Petroleum.

UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Monday: Taree
Tuesday: Beaumont Track-Newcastle (Wine Country Race Club)
Friday: Tamworth
Saturday: Cowra, Mungindi (non-TAB), Duck Creek picnics at Nyngan (non-TAB)
Sunday: Grafton, Mudgee