Close to half the nominations for the feature race are from Tamworth trainers on a day where the 229 nominations exceeded Tamworth Jockey Club expectations.

The 1200m JT Fossey Country Music Cup received 27 nominations, 10 of them from Tamworth-based trainers Cody and Luke Morgan, Lesley Jeffriess, Jane Clement, Michelle Fleming and Melanie Bolwell.

Cody Morgan has nominated four himself - Ligulate, Wellington Cup winner Goldstream, Pat's Nipper, and Rubble - while his brother, Luke, has nominated General Scarlet.

TJC general manager Mitch Shaw said the huge nominations, which saw 44 nominations in the $40,000 JT Fossey Nissan Country Only Showcase Maiden Plate (1200m) alone, were outstanding considering the effects of the on-going drought.

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Thursday's limited rain was also a welcome arrival with more forecast.

"Unfortunately we only got 8mm," TJC track manager Lindsay Bowne said.

"We missed all the good stuff but we are supposed to get some more this afternoon and tomorrow and then hopefully a bit more over the weekend.

That little 8mm was a welcome drop and if the forecast rain does arrive then it will have the track "nice" for Thursday's meeting.

"We also back up again five days later with that meeting we picked up from Armidale," Bowne added.

While the Country Only Showcase Maiden attracted 44 nominations the JT Fossey Ford Class 1 Showcase Handicap attracted 43 and the JT Fossey $50,000 Gold BOBS Class 3 Handicap (1000m) attracting 38 nominations.