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By Mark Brassel

Located on a dormant volcanic crater, the Northern Rivers town of Murwillumbah will feature prominently when the Tweed Coast Summer Racing Series kicks off on Friday.

White Claw Christmas Raceday is an action packed eight-race TAB card with two heats of the Tweed Coast Classic (1200m) whereby the top six horses from each heat qualify for the $34,000 Final on Day 2 of the Series (27th December).

Fashions on the Field at Murwillumbah. Image by Scott Powick

“Each of Friday’s heats carries $27,000 in prizemoney with one for fillies and mares, and the other for colts, geldings and entires,” said Corey Cox, Tweed River Jockey Club’s events & hospitality manager.

“The two supporting races on Friday will be the [$50,000] Tweed Shire Council Super Maiden Plate over 1200m and the [$27,000] R.A. Walsh Memorial Stayers Plate over 2000m.

“Mojo Rising, a high energy seven-piece covers band based on the Gold Coast, will be playing live after the last race from 5:30pm.

“And tickets are still available for the Tinsel & Tinnies’ Enclosure with free entry to the course after 4pm.”

The feature race of the series, the $34,000 CHG Integrated Wealth Tweed Coast Classic Final, will be run on Day 2 of the Series (Wednesday 27th December).

The meeting is also highlighted by the $27,000 Lotza Signs Ballina Cup Prelude with the winner exempt from ballot for the 2024 Ballina Cup, a qualifying race for the $3m Big Dance at Royal Randwick next November.

“On Tweed Coast Classic Final Day we will host the Byron Bay Brewery Garden Party, a perfect wind-down at the races after Christmas,” Cox said.

“For only $50 per ticket, punters receive entry to the racecourse and to the Byron Bay Brewery Garden Party, three Byron Bay Brewery beverages (lager or sparkling cocktails) and a beef or chicken burger with chips.

“And the Bernie Quinn Trophy (Horse of the Series) and Barry Charman Medal (Jockey of the Series) will be run across all 29 races of the four-day Series, with the winners announced during Kingscliff Cup Day on Sunday 4th February.”

Meanwhile, Moruya Jockey Club will stage three exciting summer meetings within a month commencing with the Narooma Cup meeting next Sunday.

“This is a great meeting in which last year it surpassed expectations in regard to crowd numbers,” said MJC’s executive officer, Ken Brown.

“This program is a fantastic lead-up to the Moruya Cup with the crowd subject to some of the best offerings from Narooma including our incredible oysters.

“The day is Christmas-themed being just eight days from when Santa arrives, and this will be represented in the Fashions on the Field competition with a jumping castle and face painting for the kids.

“It is always a great day at the track and perfectly timed this year for the annual office Christmas party.”

UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Monday: Tuncurry, Orange
Tuesday: Wagga (Riverside), Tamworth
Friday: Murwillumbah, Goulburn, Warren
Saturday: Albury, Coffs Harbour, Moree
Sunday: Moruya, Coonamble