Dubbo Harness Racing Club is gearing up for "a mini carnival" with two massive weekends of action ahead.
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This Sunday sees the third running of the Gilgandra Cup Charity Day meeting and a week after that the rescheduled and improved Red Ochres Mares Classic will be contested.
Sunday's meeting has quickly become one of the best and most special events on the calendar, with the quality on the track outdone by the community spirit shown off it.
Each year money raised on the day goes towards a town in Gilgandra, one of the countless smaller centres in the west being tested by the ongoing drought.
After money went to the Gilgandra Cancer Support Group and the Lions' Club drought relief program previously, this year funds on the day will go to the Gilgandra Hospital.
It will help pay for much-needed medical supplies, namely a new bed-lifter.
The seven-race program, sponsored by a number of Gilgandra businesses, is headlined by the Gilgandra Cup but it also features the Gilgandra Windmill, the Long Waterhole, and the Three-Year-Old Silver Jug.
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"It's really great," Dubbo Harness Racing Club director and organiser Graham Phipps said.
"There's going to be a busload coming across [from Gilgandra].
"What surprised me is the sponsors coming back on board.
"They're doing it tough with the drought and Gilgandra is suffering more than we are. It's a bit like people n Sydney not knowing how tough we're doing it, we don't realise how tough they're doing it.
"It's really pleasing and I really thank them for continuing to support the meeting."
Those in attendance won't just be helping out, they'll get to witness some first-class country race as well.
The $10,000 Gilgandra Motor Garage Gilgandra Cup has attracted a strong field, with the likes of Steve and Amanda Turnbull, and Bernie Hewitt to tackle hometown hopes trained by Barry Lew and Greg Pay.
Lew will have the promising Dazzle Me in action while Pay has Kimsarme Direct contest the feature.
The Turnbulls will be out in force with Steve having Ring The Till and Heza Bromac in the cup's field of 10 while Amanda has Tact Bess and Nathan Turnbull will steer Mister Magic Man.
The Chandler's Stockfeeds Gilgandra Windmill is one of the more unique events as the prize is a glass windmill trophy created by Gilgandra artist Joe Shalhoub.
The action doesn't stop after Sunday with the running of the Red Ochre Mares Classic a week later.
The iconic race has been given a new date, meaning the December 1 event marks the second time this year the feature has been contested.
There has also been a boost in status and prizemoney, as it is now a Group 2 event worth $50,000.
"It's a mini carnival in a way and that red Ochre is going to be fantastic," Phipps said.
"Hopefully quality horses will come for it, being $50,000."
Racing on Sunday starts at 2.17pm.
Entry is free but there will be donation buckets at the gate.
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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.
