After almost a decade off the racing scene, the sound of thundering hooves will be heard at Geurie again this Saturday when the small town’s race club hosts a picnic meeting.
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Thoroughbred racing was last held at Geurie in October 2001, a meeting that featured the running of the 59th Geurie Cup.
Now, after years without a race meeting, the town is back on the map.
Volunteers have worked hard during the past 15 months to get the racecourse back to a standard capable of hosting a meeting.
Racing NSW central west chief steward Todd Smith has worked hard with the club’s committee to guide it through the process of returning to racing.
“I first went down there in late 2009, probably about 15 months ago,” Smith said.
“At that stage there was a fair bit of work to be done. They needed to put up a new running rail, fix the barrier stalls, work needed to be done on the grandstand and the horse stalls.
“But each time I have been down to visit things have been steadily coming along and when I went down there on Tuesday things were looking pretty good.”
In the interim period the racecourse has been used for rodeos and pony club events.
But the dedication of the new committee has resulted in Racing NSW approving the venue for racing.
According to a release from club president Ray Fineran, the town has a long history in the sport.
“The first race in Geurie was conducted in the streets of the village in 1896 starting and finishing at the Halfway House Hotel,” the release said.
“In 1901 the race club purchased crown land and began racing in its present location, now known as the Geurie Sport and Recreational Grounds.
“In 1915 the club staged its first registered meeting in affiliation with the Australian Jockey Club. Official racing in Geurie continued on and off until the final race in October 2001.”
A five-race program will be held on Saturday culminating in the running of the inaugural Geurie Picnic Cup over 1400 metres, sponsored by Harrow’s Transport.
Other services on the day include a full bar (no BYO), jumping castle, face painting, on course tote, Doreen Thompson Dance Group and Fashions on the Field (prizes to value of $1200).
