Coonamble Jockey Club will be hosting its first Country Championships race day next Sunday in what has been described as the biggest social gathering on the town's calendar.
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After regularly being contested at Dubbo Turf Club, the $150,000 Western Racing Association Qualifier heads to the town most well known for hosting the southern hemisphere's biggest rodeo.
Located 527km north-west of Sydney, Coonamble's economy relies on sheep, wheat and wool, and in June hosts its 65th annual rodeo, one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.
"We are aiming not only for a great day of racing but also the chance for a fantastic social family day out," Coonamble Jockey Club's secretary-manager Ana Robson said.
"We're expecting a very big crowd next Sunday and it's looming as Coonamble's biggest community day of the year.
"There will be live music, a jumping castle, novelty races and a Fashions on the Field, and we have group marquees, a luncheon marquee and a full bar with TAB facilities and entry is just $15."
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Most around the western area expect Sunday's qualifier to be the most high quality edition of the race yet.
As is the case with every heat, the first the past the post earn a ticket to the $500,000 Country Championships Final at Royal Randwick.
Dubbo trainers Kody Nestor and Clint Lundholm are among those with numerous strong chances, the former having seen Fast Talking boost his chances by scoring a strong win when returning at Mudgee a week ago.
The five-year-old, with Greg Ryan aboard, stormed down the outside at $14 last Sunday to upset the better fancied Golden Avenger (Hugh Bowman, $4) in scoring by just under a length.
"The Championships at Coonamble has always been in Kody's mind so now the horse has struck form, he will head up there and try to gain a berth to the final," said Ryan.
The heat isn't the only attraction at Coonamble on Sunday, with the eight-race card totalling $370,000 in prize money.
Nominations for the richest meeting staged at Coonamble will be released on Tuesday.
