The Wellington Race Club is in good stead and ready to produce another Wellington Boot Carnival in April 2018, according to Ian Darney ahead of his fifth year as club president.
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Mr Darney was re-elected unopposed at the December 6 Annual General Meeting, alongside vice presidents Malcolm Brown and Jarrod Wykes.
Lisa Hodges continues as secretary while Peter Barton retains the club treasurer position. Club committee members this year include Ian Giffin, Daniel Blackhall, James Drew, Gillian Ryan, Tom Swainston, Frank Hodges, Lisa Kitch, Malcom Scott and Mark Griggs.
The new committee is eager to see the year out with a bang, their sights now turning to the Boxing Day meeting.
Mr Darney said the next race meeting is on Boxing Day when families and friends congregate for some fun, entertainment and some relaxation after Christmas festivities the day prior.
“Our Boxing Day meeting has always been a priority ‘must attend’ fixture on Wellington’s Christmas calendar,” he said.
“It’s a day family and friends visiting for the Christmas period can relax and enjoy a fun day out after a busy lead-up to Christmas Day.”
The club will then welcome in the new year with the main event to fall over April 7 and 8, being the 2018 Wellington Boot two-day racing carnival.
Wellington was one of three country clubs in NSW to offer $500,000 in prizemoney at the Boot in 2017, and while Boot day 2018 doesn’t reach those figures it will be among the top 10 prizemoney race meetings in NSW.
“We have Racing NSW to thank for that, they jumped the prize money from $100,000 to $150,000 for April 2018,” Mr Brown said.
“And they have given us an extra race meeting which is something we’ve been fighting for for a long time – we’re up to nine now.”
Mr Brown said it is a welcomed move for a country club such as Wellington which survives on TAB turnover.
Other standout moments according to the vice president include the installation of a $50,000 kangaroo-proof fence around the course, as well as the construction of new stables featuring 12 bays.
The club also welcomed apprentice groundsman, Liam Brien, to the team who assists John Mills in keeping the grounds up to scratch.
“The club has attracted two new trainers into town [through the construction of the stables] and there will be more once the stables are complete,” he said.
The committee added that visitors to the course will be amazed at the difference in what used to be dust between the grand shady trees which now boasts green lawn, thanks to a grass reclamation program between the old tea room and undercover area.
