Vince Gordon has noticed a buzz around recently.
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It's something the Dubbo Turf Club general manager is eager to capitalise on, too, with a number of bumper meetings at the track in the coming weeks.
Friday's loaded nine-race meeting is followed by another next month, before one of the biggest Gold Cup meetings in years plays out.
Racing NSW recently announced an increase in prize-money for feature country events, with the Gold Cup one of the main beneficiaries.
The Gold Cup prize has risen by $40,000 to a new high of $100,000 while three other events that day will be worth $50,000.
"We want to get as many people as we can there," Gordon said of the coming meetings.
"There's been plenty of chatter about it, that's for sure.
"We want to add to that excitement and really engage with the community, that's what we want to achieve.
"If we can get more visitors to the club and the town and involved in what's happening around Dubbo, that's our aim."
The action at the track starts on Friday, with the meeting featuring two memorial events.
The memorial events are named after Reeve Wheeler and John McKinnon, two people who had a real impact on the Dubbo Turf Club and local racing industry in the past.
"It's about remembering those who've helped the club a lot," Gordon said.
"The whole day is about it and it's always good to appreciate that."
The Reeve Wheeler Memorial Open Handicap (1650m) shapes as one of the day's main events, despite it being the only race not to have a full field.
Hometown hope Any Blinkin' Day, trained by Clint Lundholm, is coming off a victory in open company last month at the Dubbo track while another local hope in Podium Bound also comes into the race in fine form.
Trained by Allan Gibson, Podium Bound has three wins and two placings from his past five starts.
The race will also feature the Stirling Osland-trained Exilia Miss, which returned from a spell to run last in the Curlewis Cup at Gunnedah last time out.
The John McKinnon Memorial Benchmark 66 Handicap (1020m) is also sure to garner attention.
Lundholm's former Highway Handicap winner Larlabrook will contest that event, along with Alison Smith's consistent Panuara, Gayna Williams' returning Key Factor, and Connie Greig's lightly-raced Pray To The Sky.
The first of the nine races on Friday jumps at 11.55am.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
