Wagga Amateur Picnic Race Club hopes the community still gets behind the popular race day despite the strong chance of there being no horses in action.

Five consecutive Southern District race meetings have been lost due to wet weather over the past two months and that could be six by Saturday if the rain that is forecast arrives.

With the proceeds donated to Country Hope, Picnic Club president Pat Barrett hopes a big crowd still gets along to MTC, horses or not.

“We’re hoping to get as many people along as possible to watch the footy on the big screen and have a good time,” Barrett said.

“The rain forecast for this week hasn’t dampened our spirits and we are expecting a great day either way. For many people the races are not only what the picnics is about. It is generally a great day for everyone to don their best outfit and catch up with friends.”

About 50 to 70 millimetres of rain is forecast for Thursday and Friday, on top of the 157mm that has already fallen at MTC this month.

The Wagga track was rated a heavy 10 on Tuesday but MTC chief executive Scott Sanbrook said the forecast offered little hope.

“We obviously do not want to lose another meeting if we can possibly help it,” Sanbrook said.

“Unfortunately the forecast is not very promising at all. We’ve had the wettest September on record and the worst could be yet to come.”

A phantom meeting will be held if the races are called off and the AFL grand final will be shown on a big screen, regardless.

There will also be a band, fashions on the field, plenty of kids entertainment and TAB facilities.

A calcutta will be held at the Sportsmen’s Hotel on Friday night, leading into the main event on Saturday.

With $45,000 raised last year, Barrett hopes they can still raise plenty of funds for Country Hope’s Time Out For Life children’s camp.

“It’s hard to know what people will do with the weather but hopefully we still get a good crowd come along,” he said.

Sanbrook encouraged race goers to get behind the important race day.

“The picnic club has worked hard to ensure there will be tonnes of entertainment in addition to the racing,” he said.

MTC received 98 nominations for Saturday’s Sky Two TAB meeting.

The feature is the $10,000 Sportsmen’s Club Hotel 2016 Wagga Picnic Cup – Benchmark 60 Handicap (1800m). It attracted 12 nominations, including the likes of Andrew Dale’s trio Little Red Devil, Shelbyville and Biding Time, along with Zaritzie, Golan Power and Cod Rock.