Local punters will be flocking to Newcastle Racecourse today to mark the start of the Newcastle Spring Carnival.
Festivities will kick off with the Sharp Office Newcastle Gold Cup Day today ahead of Ladies Day on Saturday.
The Sharp Office Newcastle Gold Cup Race Day’s race program is headlined by the Group 3 $300,000 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m), alongside the $250,000 Group 3 Tibbie Stakes and $250,000 Cameron Handicap (1500m).
Newcastle Jockey Club CEO Duane Dowell says, “The team have been working really hard this week to put on another two-day carnival,”
“It’s really the start of the spring racing season we call it. So it goes all the way through to Boxing Day really so it’s a very busy time for the team and really looking forward to this year.
“It looks like the weather’s going to be perfect so no excuses for the Newcastle people not to come out and support Newcastle Cup Day and Ladies Day which is on Saturday.”
He goes on to say the two-day event will be jam packed with activities for race goers.
“We’ve been really buoyed by the response with ticket sales every bit in line with last year which is fantastic so it’s good to see still great interest and growing interest in Newcastle Cup two-day carnival,” Mr Dowell says.
“Ladies Day in particular has got a lot of interest as you’d expect so we had lots of activations during the day we’ve got fashions on the field there’s a glam cam, pamper station and then we’ve got Whispering Jack after which is a tribute to the John Farnham so yeah look plenty to be excited about on Ladies Day,
“But also Friday is very much a corporate and punters day, and we’ll expect similar crowds both days.”
Private Harry is set to be flying the flag the highest for the Hunter as the second favourite, racing on Saturday in Sydney on his path to the Everest.
Trainer Nathan Doyle says it’s an exciting time for race goers.
“It’s a great time of year, all the good horses are back and there’s some good racing on here and it’s good weather,” he says.
Original article courtesy of 2HD.com.au.
