There’s a unique opportunity to own a piece of racing history at Forbes Spring Races this Saturday, with Hugh Bowman’s silks from the wonder mare’s winning Winx Stakes run up for auction.
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Forbes’ Cat Newcombe has gathered some incredible donations for raffles for Saturday, with the funds to go to a drought relief cause.
She had the idea to secure memorabilia of the incredible mare, who’s won 28 straight starts, and dug into her racing contacts.
“Winx and Hugh Bowman are a national icon at the moment, who wouldn’t want a piece of the wonder mare’s history?”
Bowman, son of a Dunedoo farmer, was quick to sign the breeches he wore in the 2018 Winx Stakes with his trademark “She’s apples” and send them to Forbes.
The framed silks go up for auction between races 4 and 5.
Raffle tickets – with prizes including a kayak, RM Williams clothing, vouchers for fuel and food all donated by local businesses will be on sale on course.
READ MORE: Col Hodges looks at Saturday’s racing
Here’s what Forbes Jockey Club secretary Harvey Elliott had to say about preparations …
Forbes Jockey Club is very pleased with the support from local trainers Dennis Bush, Caitlin Cox and Barry Molloy for their nominations for the Forbes Spring race meeting tomorrow at the picturesque Forbes Racecourse.
These trainers drive many kilometres around the country to race their horses and a local meeting must be very satisfying to them. Forbes Jockey Club only conduct two race meetings annually but continue to canvass Racing NSW to allocate a third meeting hopefully one day in the Autumn.
It is also very generous of Peter Maher Shearing Services and MBR Clothing to provide $500 trainer’s bonus for the race meeting. The winner being the trainer who accumulates most points at the end of the day.
It would be nice to keep it local but thoroughbred racing is very competitive, and all country trainers work extremely hard. All the trainers travelling to this race meeting have supported country racing for many years so any reward they receive is richly deserved.
As well as the trainers their staff do the hard yards. One who springs to mind is Catherine Newcombe who rides trackwork for the trainers in Forbes. Catherine has organised a monster raffle and tickets will be on sale at the track, so it is hoped racegoers will lend their support and purchase tickets with all proceeds going to drought relief.
Forbes Jockey Club is also pleased to provide prizemoney of $500 for the Everest sweep which our chosen Charity Forbes Can Assist will be conducting on course and all proceeds will assist this wonderful local charity.
The reopening of the heritage public grandstand will be held between races 1 and 2. The grandstand will be officially opened by Mayor Phyllis Miller. The official party will be John Rennick, President of Forbes Jockey Club, Mayor Miller and Mr. Philip Donato Member for Orange.
Official invitations to attend were sent to Michael McCormack Federal Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister who tendered his apology and asked that it be recorded as he was disappointed he could not attend due to previous commitments.
Paul Toole Minister for Racing, Rick Colless MLC, Parliamentary Secretary for Western NSW also tendered their apologies as did Peter V’landys Racing NSW, Brian Charman Country Racing; Max Walker, Country Racing Board; and Andrew Small Country Racing NSW Development Fund.
All that is required for the work Forbes Jockey Club has put in for the Forbes Spring Races is a crowd to have an enjoyable day of family fun and entertainment showing the beautiful spring fashions and a great day of racing called by the voice of Central Districts and Western racing Col Hodges OAM. Be there for a great day out.
