FRESH from a strong season and good profit for Quirindi Jockey Club is a move to a new beer brand on tap at the Quirindi Racecourse.
Jeff Galbraith was re-elected to a second term as club president at last Wednesday night’s annual general meeting which also heard the club made a profit of $72,000 in the last financial year.
He said the club was hoping to spend more at the track and had already refurbished bars in readiness for three “summer” meetings in the coming weeks.
“We’re looking at spending more at the track and the Liverpool Plains Shire Council has been very good to us as well,” Galbraith told The Leader while also advising next year’s Cup meeting would have major prizemoney increases too.
“We’ve increased the Cup to $35,000,” he said of a race worth $25,000 this year.
“The Lightning has increased to $30,000, up from $20,000 as well.”
Racegoers will also notice a few changes at the track too, with the new plastic running rail installed.
“We have plans completed for the new female and jockey rooms,” he said.
“We’ll start construction on them after next year’s Cup (February 26).
“We also have two new swabbing boxes and two extra wash bays and have a new lift being installed for disabled people.
“It’s all happening for us.”
Quirindi has also signed on with Carlton United for the next three years.
“After many years with Tooheys we have decided to go with Carlton,” Galbraith said.
“They (Carlton) made us an offer we couldn’t refuse.
“I spoke to Andrew Cooper (Tooheys rep) and they couldn’t match it.”
It means Quirindi’s next meeting, on November 13, will stock the three Carlton brands – light, mid and draught – before the club stages its “Christmas Party” meeting on December 8 and then its traditional big Boxing Day meeting (December 26).
The December 8 meeting has been promoted as a Christmas Party meeting for local businesses to use as a venue for celebration with workers and clients.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we finish up with a thousand people,” Galbraith said.
“We’ve had a lot of enquiries and a number of businesses are booked in for Christmas parties already.
“However we have plenty of room and can fit plenty more businesses in.
“We have a number of different food and drink packages for them as well.
“Then there is the big Boxing Day meeting.
“Last year we had around 2700 people on course.
“Nearly all of Quirindi was there.”
