What are the biggest race meetings in the Riverina? We review some of the best in the region here.
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The Riverina sure knows how to put on a country race meeting. Whether we are celebrating a national event like Melbourne Cup or a spring carnival, the Riverina hosts some of the biggest and best race meetings in the state.
Can you think of any others to add to our list?
Wagga Gold Cup
The Gold Cup is the biggest event on Wagga's social calendar. Every year, thousands of people flock to the city to join the impressive crowd at the races on the first Friday in May. Town Plate is held on the Thursday, a day before the big event, which features eight local races and Myer Fashions on the Field.
Aggies Race Day
Aggies Race Day is a highlight of the spring racing carnival in Wagga. Organised by the Wagga Agricultural Club, the race features an abundance of Charles Sturt University students hoping to blow off steam towards the end of the year. It also acts as a reunion destination for former students. The dress code is a little less strict at Ag Races so it's not unusual to see cowboy boots paired with floral dresses, flower crows over fascinators or jeans for the boys.
Australia Day Races
Australia Day Races - or better known as the occasion where it's perfectly acceptable to wear board shorts and thongs or a dress made out of an Australian flag to the race track. Spirits are as high as the soaring January temperatures at the Murrumbigee Turf Club each year as we celebrate what makes our nation great.
Melbourne Cup
The MTC is the perfect place to watch the Melbourne Cup if you cannot make it to Victoria for the main race.
Snake Gully Cup
The latest Snake Gully Cup was held on Friday, November 14 in Gundagai and followed by the Hair of the Dog Day on Saturday. It is held annually in November and is a major draw card for the town's social schedule. The two-day program features local races, prize money and fashions on the field.
Tumut Boxing Day Races
It's the day after Christmas and you're still a bit full of food and drink from the day before. So where's the best place to go and recover? The Tumut Boxing Day races. There is live entertainment throughout the day, a barbecue and kiosk as well as TAB facilities and country and metropolitan bookmakers.
Griffith Gold Cup
The equivalent of Wagga's Gold Cup in Griffith is the Griffith Cup - a day full of fun, fashion and races.
Picnic Races
We have a lot to thank the British for and it seems that picnic races can be added to that list. The tradition of the humble country picnic race day was started in the 19th Century in NSW and has grown to be included among so of the region's most popular race days. Some of the biggest picnic races in the Riverina are held in Lockhart, Ardlethan and Harden.
Hay Races
It's almost guaranteed that the Hay Races will be the hottest day in November, and that's before everyone gets frocked up and trackside. For a town of 3000, the racecourse regularly sees 2000 people through the gates and if you haven't booked a room a year out, odds are you'll struggle to find somewhere with a roof to sleep on races night. Not that it really matters - it's a big day with plenty of post-race events, so having a kip is the last thing on your mind as the beer and champers flow as the mercury nudges 40°. It's the biggest weekend of the year, so the Hay races crowd is a mix of families, Hay expats, travellers, racing die-hards, school reunions, and, of course, hens parties and bucks weekends. If you've thought about the Carrathool Races but want a bit of grass underfoot and the temperature to be under 43, the lush lawns of the Hay racecourse are where you want to be.