TURF
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By Geoff Newling
QUIRINDI Jockey Club is prepared for a huge Boxing Day meeting to round out a successful December.
The QJC could not have prepared any better for the December 26 meeting when it celebrated a festive Christmas Party meeting at the track last Saturday.
Good fields for a non-TAB meeting, a big crowd and an official opening of the new plastic running rail by MP George Souris highlighted the day, said club president Jeff Galbraith.
“The crowd was excellent,” Galbraith said.
“It was a very good day for everyone, the bookies turnover was great, it was a fantastic day for everyone.”
George Souris, with the help of club secretary Ted Wilkinson, Liverpool Plains Shire mayor Ian Lobsey and Galbraith cut the tinsel in a symbolic gesture to officially open the new plastic running rail.
It was a moment that captured the hard work of the QJC, who paid for the full renovation itself.
“It cost us about $45,000 to $50,000 by the time we finished it all,” Galbraith said.
“We paid for it all ourselves.”
The QJC has also refurbished its bars and re-fenced the outside of the track with the old running rail.
It still has plenty of work to do as well.
“After Boxing Day we will start work on some drainage on the track and have that ready for our Cup day on February 22.
“Then straight after the Cup we’ll start work on renovating the jockey’s room, male and female.
“But we’re preparing now for a big Boxing Day meeting, and if the other day is an example we will have a monster day.”
While Quirindi prepare for Boxing Day it is a busy festive racing season in the HNWRA with Scone Race Club staging their Christmas Cup meeting tomorrow and Muswellbrook Race Club running a seven-race TAB meeting next Tuesday.
Moree Race Club then run a Sky 2 TAB meeting on Saturday, December 22 and Tamworth Jockey Club runs a Christmas eve meeting on December 24.
Nominations for Moree close 11am next Monday with Tamworth’s nominations due by 11am next
Tuesday.