The Parkes Jockey Club is still struggling with the loss of the grandstand in the storm last year, but is determined to continue offering quality racing to the community.
The club’s next event is on Sunday, 21st May for the running of the 123rd Gold Cup Race Meeting. (The only break in the run- ning of the event was for the war!)
The cup is ran over a distance of a mile (1,600 metres) and attracts prize money to- talling $25,000.
Last year the race was won by Itchyzariz trained by Matthew Dale and rode by Kayla Nisbet. Heyson, the winner of 2015 was placed third. The race is sponsored by a proud supporter of the Parkes Jockey Club, the Parkes Services Club.
The races attract high quality horses, train- ers and jockeys from across the state.
The Parkes track is considered to be one of the better tracks in the area and has the second longest straight in the western districts, only pipped at the post by Warren.
The Parkes Services Club is sponsoring two races, the Parkes Gold Cup and the Satellite Handicap. Members of the Parkes Services Club will receive free entry to the course.
This is a full TAB meeting with eight races and every year we receive very large nomi- nations. There is the usual on course fa- cilities – full bar and TAB facilities with the Parkes Brigade of the Rural Fire Service providing a barbecue lunch and snacks.
Coupled with the free admission to Services Club members, there will also be give-aways on the day to celebrate the re-newing of the on-going sponsorship of Lion Nathan Breweries.
By Mark Ross