IT may not include a crowd of thousands, but organisers claim this year's Melbourne Cup Day race meeting at Tamworth is shaping up to be one of the best yet.
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The Tamworth Jockey Club has pulled out all the stops to ensure this year's event goes ahead and just had a boost with an increase in the day's capacity trackside.
Initially selling out, an easing of COVID-19 restrictions allowed the club to host an extra 100 people on course for the day.
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Club general manager Wayne Wood said as of Monday afternoon, only 40 tickets remained for the event.
"I don't think there's any doubt it will be a sell-out event," Mr Wood told the Leader.
"That extra 100 people has been great and it will really help us open things up a bit.
"The gardens look sensational, the track is in fantastic shape and the weather looks like it will be perfect.
"I think this should be a Cup Day like no other for us."
Mr Wood said preparations for Tamworth's biggest race day of the year had been challenging at times.
"To be honest, it has almost been more difficult getting everything ready for a few hundred people than it would normally be for a few thousand people," he said.
"Getting everything ready to be COVID-safe has taken a mountain of work, but the team here at the jockey club have done an awesome job.
"They deserve all of the credit for getting everything ready for what should be a great day of racing."
While the big crowds won't be there, there will be plenty of racing on the track, and off the track with fashions in the field.
The in the afternoon all eyes will be on the race that stops the nation.
"We will have COVID marshalls working throughout the day ensuring everything is running smoothly," Mr Wood said.
"I know Barnaby Joyce and Kevin Anderson will both be along for the day.
"Everyone's details will be taken at the gate upon entry, so I would suggest people allow extra time to get in and have their identification ready at the gate.
"We're pretty confident there won't be too many issues though, the track is in great shape and we're all set for a cracking day of racing in Tamworth."
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
