Dubbo Turf Club General Manager Vince Gordon and Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders made the announcement on Friday, in what's being considered the region's first major event since the start of COVID-19.

"It's been a difficult couple of years," Mr Saunders said. "It's been a really difficult time for events and for gatherings and for people to feel like they've got some level of normality.

"October 30, the last Saturday in October will be that opportunity for Dubbo and right across the region to gather here."

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Currently organisers are planning for a crowd of up to 3,000 people - only for those who are fully vaccinated - but there's a possibility that capacity could be boosted.

By October 30 it's anticipated the state will have reached the 80 per cent double vaccinated target, bringing into effect a further relaxing of restrictions including for outdoor events.

The NSW Health website's 80 per cent roadmap states 'major recreation facilities (including race courses)' are permitted to open with 'density limits for up to 5,000 people'.

"The crowd numbers may be able to grow again, I mean we went (Thursday) from 500 to 3000 under the 70 per cent roadmap rule," Mr Saunders said. "Expectations are at 80 per cent things could well change again.

"At the moment though, there's a bit of certainty for the club to know that they're heading towards a certain target. The ability is there for the club to at least plan for what they know they can do now, and that is, host a few thousand people for what will be I think the first major event since COVID-19 took over."

Whether at 70 or 80 per cent rules, outfits won't need to be matched with masks, as outdoor gatherings can be mask-free. The seating and standing arrangements will be fine-tuned closer to the date, but there will be capacity for both.

Mr Gordon said he is thrilled that crowds will be back trackside.

"The track is in as good a condition as it has been in a long, long time, the guys here are doing a wonderful job and that's all part of the excitement for us going forward with Derby Day.

"It won't be the biggest party we've had, but it will be a nice crowd of a couple thousand people, of course COVID compliant."

Under NSW Public Health rules, the event will only be open for people who are fully vaccinated. Mr Gordon said they will have the "usual checks" at entry, as well as additional checks throughout the venue.

Mr Saunders said they won't have people "stand at the gate with guns", but said "there is responsibility on all of us...to actually do the right thing".

The Dubbo Turf Club supports about 200 direct and indirect jobs, and Mr Gordon said locally the industry has been doing well in the COVID era.

"It's been incredible the fact that racing's been able to continue on," he said. "Thanks to everyone throughout the industry and all those running the industry, racing has been very fortunate, we've barely missed a meeting because of that.

"We've now got about 160 horses train here daily and at the start of COVID that was about 120, so the industry is alive and well in Dubbo."

Having crowds trackside will only boost the industry, and Derby Day isn't the only event on the racing calendar in 2021.There's Ladies Day in November and then Melbourne Cup Day, and a Christmas meet at the end of the year.

The Western Eagle is the feature Derby Day race.

Tickets are available now on the 123 Tix website.

https://www.123tix.com.au/events/19291/maas-group-derby-day

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