As people from all over the region gear up to attend Collarenebri’s annual race day next Saturday, there will be one face that will be notably absent amongst the crowd.
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Collarenebri stalwart Jack Meaney sadly passed away this year.
Meaney was synonymous with the Collarenebri Jockey Club, having served on the committee for 35 years, 22 of which as president – a role he remained in until 2008.
The life member and patron of the jockey club will be forever remembered with a race being named in his honour at this year’s Collarenebri Race Day.
The Jack Meaney Memorial Maiden Cup will now be a permanent fixture on the annual race program, alongside the Joe and Jane Willis Memorial Benchmark 52 Cup named in honour of two other life members of the Collarenebri Jockey Club – Joe and Jane Willis who tragically passed away one week apart in 2016.
The two races will be part of next Saturday’s (September 8) six-race meeting, which promises to be one of the biggest in years.
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“The last couple of years have been pretty quiet because there’s been things on at the same time. But this year we’re not going up against anyone else,” Collarenebri Jockey Club secretary/treasurer Sharon Girling said.
“We’re definitely going to get a bigger crowd.
“It got washed out two years ago, so this year we don’t have to worry about that either.”
This year’s feature race will be the B and W Rural Collarenebri Cup and, with no other race meets scheduled for September 8, strong fields are expected in all six races.
The day will commence with the renowned hostess luncheon at 12.30pm, with the first race to follow at approximately 1.15pm.
For the fashionistas, the popular Fashions on the Field competition boasts plenty of great prizes in each of the categories, including Stallion, Mare, Colt, Filly, Foals (teenagers and children) and best millinery.
Pearls for Girls and Mystery Creations will have stalls set up on the day, while the Collarenebri Lions Club will be busy on the barbecue keeping everyone’s hunger at bay.
For those after something sweeter, the CWA ladies will have a cake and coffee stall.
There will be a full bar and TAB and Sky Channel facilities, as well as local bookmakers on course.
A courtesy bus will be running from the Tatts Hotel to the racecourse throughout the day and in the evening will drop patrons back in town.
Following the races, Walgett band Route 37 will be playing at the Collarenebri Bowling Club for those wishing to keep partying into the night.
“That way everyone comes back into town, so we can give something back to the town,” Ms Girling said.
Ms Girling encourages everyone to get their “backsides trackside” for what promises to be an amazing day of country racing.
“It’s also good for farmers to take their mind off the drought, to come and have a beer or a wine and not think about tomorrow,” she said.
For more information, go to the Collarenebri Jockey Club Facebook page or the Collarenebri 2018 Race Day Facebook event.
