The “grand old dame” has had a facelift and makeover and all will be revealed at the Forbes Jockey Club’s Spring Races this coming Saturday, October 13.
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We’re talking about the 110-year-old grandstand at the Forbes racecourse where the committee of 1912 posed for a photograph below the grandstand as revealed in the publication Forbes New South Wales compiled by the Forbes history book committee.
A facelift and makeover is very expensive and to retain her heritage looks a grant was sought. With the assistance of Forbes Shire Council’s grants officer Andrew Rawsthorne and The NSW Government’s program, Heritage Near Me, which provided $100,000 to the project.
The “grand old dame” was really wilting with age and another $50,000 was required to bring back that magnificent look of the 1900’s which 80% was provided by the Country Racecourse Development Fund and the remainder and a little bit more by the Forbes Jockey Club.
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Beneath the Grandstand the canteen has had many photographs hung for the racing and the public to see and remember of winning horses their owners, trainers and jockeys of past days. There is even a link to the champion mare Winx in one photograph.
Over the years the grandstand has “seen” all ages of fashion parade before it and once again this Saturday the lawns at the forefront will abound in today’s spring fashions as the elegant ladies, the men and the children from Forbes and surrounding areas enjoy a day of racing at the picturesque racecourse, further enhanced with over 20 mm of rain last Thursday.
The Forbes Jockey Club is offering some wonderful prizes for Fashions on the Field which are being very capably organized by Carmen Duffy the club’s fashion expert. Since joining the Forbes Jockey Club committee Carmen has seen this spring race day grow in stature with the number of marquees on course increasing gradually over that time and at this time the numbers are on par to exceed previous years.
There will be carnival rides and attractions for the children which will allow the parents some time to enjoy themselves with their friends and family in attendance.
All together there will be a great crowd atmosphere with people enjoying the outdoors and swapping race tips and taking advantage of the TAB race van on course. Betting on course allows the patrons to assess the confidence of owners and trainers as well as each horse racing as it parades before the race.
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Looking forward to be a sunny spring day in Forbes on Saturday and the crowd can be part of the richest day in NSW racing watching the Everest and Kosciuszko on the television screens on course at less than half the price if they were at Randwick.
Over the years the Forbes Jockey Club has worked tirelessly on improving the racing surface and drainage which they can now boast to having a track that can absorb a lot of rain and are not fazed by the prospect of more rain prior to Saturday.
In fact, along with the rest of the community we are hoping to be in a rain pattern that will see further rain this week with the fine day predicted on Saturday in Forbes. Beyond it is hoped for the rain pattern to continue and falls are widespread and helpful to our farmers.
Catherine Newcombe, who many racegoers associate as the stable jockey of Lake Lugarno,, has taken on a huge task of organising a monster raffle and tickets will be sold on course.
The takings from this raffle will be donated to the Drought appeal. A very fine gesture and the Forbes Jockey Club endorses the raffle and urge all racegoers to purchase tickets and support the cause.
Forbes Jockey Club is a supporter of Forbes Rugby League and are very proud of their achievements in 2018. To show our pride we have a race on Saturday’s program named Forbes Magpies U/18 and 1st Grade Group 11 Premiers 2018 winners.
The club has invited Magpie players and supporters to attend the race meeting and enjoy what we anticipate another great day for Forbes and celebrate their success. Other races will be named for our Forbes sponsors who will be acknowledged in the race book and we urge support of their business.
The place to be this Saturday is Forbes races enjoying a great atmosphere which is Country Racing.
