RACING made a triumphant return to Bourke on Sunday with a huge crowd in attendance for the town's first meeting in more than 12 years.
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Narromine's Kylie Kennedy recorded a winning double on the day, as did Parkes' George Wright.
Other trainers to taste success were Rodney Robb and James Hatch.
The main event of the day, the Harry Hart Memorial Picnic Cup (1600m), was taken out by the Kennedy-trained Centabeel.
Wright went into the race, called by Hart's grandson Michael Dumesny, looking for his third win of the day with his pre-race favourite Daley ($2.10) but Centabeel went on to score and two-and-a-half length win.
The gelding by Lonhro, ridden by Alan Barton, has become somewhat of a Picnic Races specialist in recent times and took out the Tottenham Picnic Cup (1400m) last month.
It was an emotional win as the track honoured the memory of Hart with Teraset ($13) coming in second for trainer Allan Prisk while Daley was a further three lengths back in third.
Kennedy then also took out the final race of the day with Path To Freedom winning the Enngonia Race Club & Frank's Service Station Bourke Picnic Club Sprint (800m).
It was also a second win of the day for Kennedy's partner, jockey Rickey Blewitt, who also won the second event of the day.
Path To Freedom, who began the race as a $3.20 favourite, won by two-and-a-third lengths from the Bill Hayes-trained Skidaddle ($4.60) while Nyngan trainer Rodney Robb came in third with Anejo ($4).
Since a 14-week break early in the year Path To Freedom has shown plenty of promise, finishing second at Trangie and then winning the Tullibigeal Picnic Sprint (975m) last month.
The day began with George Wright taking out the 'Splashe' Cola Maiden Plate with his three-year-old gelding Earn Your Stripes.
After second placed finishes at Condobolin and Yass, Earn Your Stripes' ($2.70) eleventh start proved to be the lucky one as jockey Tim Phillips led the way to a one-and-a-half length win.
In just a three horse race, Gobo ($1.60 favourite) was second while Oh Lola ($7) rounded out the small field.
Wright's second win came in the Lack Group Class B Handicap (1000m) with Always Late ($3.20 favourite) notching up a one length win from Monarchy ($4.40) and Where's Roger ($8).
Rodney Robb got on the board in the Johnson Brothers 'Rob, Fred, Jack & Laurie' Class B Handicap (1300m) with Cloverleaf ($3.40) getting home ahead of Roger Ramjet ($2.50 favourite) and Kimberley Downs ($15).
The James Hatch-trained Stoneyrise ($3.20 favourite) took out the Bob Jackson 'Kisses For Kathy' Maiden Plate (1000m), finishing ahead of Special Rules ($3.50) and Butter Face ($11).
