After the well attended dawn and remembrance services were over, thousands of Australians got down to the other traditional Anzac ritual of two-up, although it was a very unique post service event that generated over $5000 for the Westpac Chopper in Tamworth.
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While the two-up school raged in the front bar of the Albert Hotel, the biggest crowd was out the back, where hundreds of punters got involved in Noah’s Thoroughbred Pig Racing.
The racing jumped with the Apple Sauce and Cracklin Dash, before the five race card moved on to the Pickled Pork Plate, the Crispy Cracklin Cup and the Sausage Sizzle Slipper, before finishing off with the feature race, the Ham It Up Cup at 5pm.
Punters were able to purchase an individual runner in an auction, with the favourites pulling in over $300, while the rest of the crowd entered a sweepstakes, with six numbers drawn out for each of the six runners.
This is the first year the race day has hammed up up in Tamworth, after owner and head steward Kevin ‘The Pig Whisperer’ Kiley started the venture at the Brisbane show some 17 years ago on Melbourne Cup day.
In that time the company has raised over $1 million for charity, although for Mr Kiley the novelty has never worn off.
“I do about a hundred race days a year and it is always a great day with a family friendly atmosphere,” Mr Kiley said.
Westpac Chopper events coordinator Jeff Galbraith said it was a great Anzac afternoon, which was well supported by local sponsors.
“Nick Weir and The Albert did all the work and raised somewhere around $5000,” Mr Galbraith said.
“So often pubs come under scrutiny on days like Anzac Day, but this has just been fantastic and helps keep the chopper in the air.”
