Local horse trainers will be hoping for some success on their home turf at the upcoming races, Moree’s biggest race event, to be held on Saturday, December 17.

While nominations are still open, Moree Race Club secretary Michelle Gobbert said she expects local trainers Pete Sinclair, Andrew Grey and Doug Fernando to each nominate horses for the Sky2 six-race meeting.

Being a Sky2 race meeting, prize money for each race will be about $8,000 – not as high as Moree’s Sky1 meetings which can attract prize money of about $20,000.

“Because the prize money is not quite as much as Sky1, the level of horses drops down,” Ms Gobbert said.

“We don’t end up with the huge fields that we do for our Sky1 race.”

However, following the increase in prize money for country NSW race meetings which came into effect in July this year, Ms Gobbert said the prize money for Sky2 race meetings is similar to that of Queensland’s Sky1 meets.

As a result she expects to see an increase in Queensland trainers nominating for the Twilight Races.

“Since July we’ve been getting quite a few Queensland trainers coming to our race meetings,” Ms Gobbert said.

Nominations close at 11am on Monday, December 12 and final fields will be released on Thursday, December 15.

Despite the Christmas Races attracting fewer horses than some of Moree Race Club’s other meetings throughout the year, it certainly doesn’t stop the crowds of people flocking to the event with about 3,000 people expected to attend.

North West Events have come on board as the major sponsor this year and will be providing the marquees, while Bella Sante is once again sponsoring the Fashions on the Field and have $2,500 worth of prizes up for grabs for the ladies, gentleman and children who are dressed to impress.

The On the Rails marquee sold out within 14 hours of tickets going on sale, while about a third of tickets have been sold for the Party House marquee.

There’ll be live entertainment in both marquees throughout the afternoon and international star Grayson will provide the post-race entertainment from 6.30pm.

A courtesy bus will be running to and from the racecourse throughout the afternoon and evening, from 1.30pm. The Golf Club and Royal Hotel will be the pick-up and drop-off points.

Gates open at 1pm with the first race to kick off at about 1.30pm.

Full on-course betting facilities will be available on the day.