- This story will be updated regularly throughout the day. Refresh for the latest.
- Gates open at 10.30am, Admission $25
- Race times: 12.35pm, 1.15pm, 1.50pm, 2.25pm, 3.05pm, 3.40pm, 4.20pm, 4.55pm
- Tips from the Daily Advertiser’s tipping panel
- Getting home: Sportsmen’s Hotel shuttle bus, Wagga Radio Cabs 131 008
- Parking: Available in Travers Street car park, some parking in Slocum Street.
- Fashions: There’s more than $16,000 in prizes – entries open at and judging starts at 2pm. Five categories: Man of the Day, Millinery Award, Young Contemporary, Stylish Couple and Lady of the Day
- Survival guide – how to dress, bet and enjoy Wagga’s Gold Cup
- WIN: $500 spending spree up for grabs in the Hot 100, two $50 prizes in our Snapchat comp
5.30pm: Relive that epic win by Stampede.
5pm: Kayla Nisbet has wrapped up a phenomenal ladies day out with Nights on Fire pipping favourite Can’t Find Snippy in the last race of the 2017 Wagga Gold Cup day.
Reine Happy came in third while Mitchell Road rounded out the first four.
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4.45pm: Social media has lit up with support for Rachel King, who wrote herself into the history books with her victorious ride on Stampede.
4.25: Gai Waterhouse has taken out the 2017 Wagga Gold Cup!
Rachel King becomes the second female jockey to win the Gold Cup, steering Stampede to a thrilling finish.
4.18pm: In the dying minutes before the Cup, Cool Chap is the best-backed runner.
But Life Less Ordinary retains favourtism at $3.20.
4pm: Just 20 minutes to go until the big race is here.
3.46: Exocet has powered home to win the 2017 Wagga Guineas.
3.30pm: This photo says it all.
3.15pm: Hangin’ With Willy has taken out the fifth race of the day.
We’ll have more on that shortly.
Meanwhile, trainer Chris Davis is on a massive high after Forty Nine Riddles scored the boilover of the carnival in claiming the Queen of the South.
Asked how it felt to win the Queen of the South, David replied with a smile.
“It’s glorious,” he said. Read more
3.10pm: Tragedy at the track!
2.50pm: Tourism leaders claim the city has experienced an “unprecedented” boost to the local economy on the back of the 2017 Gold Cup carnival.
It is estimated the prestigious event will inject approximately $1.1 million into Wagga as visitors flock from destinations far and wide for the big race.
Geoff Kidd, owner of the Lawson Hotel, said it comes as no surprise considering the event’s booming popularity.
“Every year it seems to get bigger,” he said.
"It should be the biggest year we've had. I've heard the track is almost at the maximum they can accommodate on ground, so perhaps we need to look at how we expand, or where we go next.” Read more
2.35pm: Time for an update from the fashions scene.
Ellie Merritt has taken out the young contemporary category.
It’s been a tough day at the office for the fashions judges – including celeb judge Sarsha Cassidy.
2.32pm: Punters who backed Forty Nine Riddles will be absolutely cheering.
TAB had the steed paying $41 before the Queen of the South was run.
It was a photo finish, so we’re waiting on a result for second and third.
2.30pm: Tye Angland’s made it a double!
Viceroy was the victor in race three.
2.25pm: “Class prevailed.”
Former Southern District jockey Tim Clark returned home to enjoy a Wagga carnival victory.
Clark produced a top front-running ride to guide Sophie’s Image ($7.00) home in the MTC Rock At The Races Class One Handicap (1200m).
“I’ve had a little bit to do with her and it was just a matter of finding the right race and Tracey placed her well,” Clark said.
“Class prevailed.”
2.20pm: Five minutes until race four – Queen of the South – here’s who our tipsters are backing.
2.06pm: And in the Stylish Couple category, Len and Deb Parish, from Bywong, impress the Fashion judges.
2.03pm: To action off the track, Vas Seker has one the Stylish Gent category in the Fashions on the Field.
1.54pm: Race three is done and dusted with Viceroy ($3.30 eq fav) finishing ahead of Dolly’s Due (eq fav $3.30) and Cagney ($5).
Viceroy is trained by Canberra-based Luke Pepper. The Toyota Material Handling Australia Class 3 Handicap (1000m) is the first race for the gelding since a third-last finish over 1200m at Morphettville Park on February 4.
1.40pm: Jockey Tim Clark guides Sophie’s Image to victory in race two.
The Tracey Bartley trained mare paid a nice dividend ($7) after the 1200-metre MTC Rock At The Races Class 1 race.
Dutiful ($4.40) finished second and Marco Man ($9) came in third.
1.15pm: Taraahse provided Wayne Carroll with a Gold Cup day victory to remember after posting a dominant win in the opening race.
Connections enjoyed a nice windfall as Taraahse ($11) bolted in by 4¾ to win the Wagga RSL Club Maiden Plate (1200m).
Owned by a big group of the Carroll family, Taraahse sat outside the leader before leaving her rivals for dead in the a Cup day cakewalk. Read more
1.10pm: We’re minutes away from the second at the Murrumbidgee Turf Club.
Balletusa looks to be the favourite heading into race two, with TAB having it at $3.60. Spackman-trained Dutiful is close behind at $4 while Kerry Weir’s Cattledog Cod looks to be paying $7.50.
1pm: Let’s get quizzical.
Test your Wagga Gold Cup knowledge now!
12.55pm: What’s happening behind the scenes?
While jockeys receive all the glory associated with big name races, spare a thought for those working furiously behind the scenes.
Midnight Obsession strapper Melissa Kennedy said a lot of work went into the role.
“We brush them, walk them, wash them, everything that gets the horses ready to go to the races,” she said.
12.45pm: Wantabadgery wonder Tye Angland has ridden Taraahse to victory in the first race of the day.
Dawn Raid and Event round out the trifecta, with Prince Jacko completing the first four.
12.15pm: As more than 10,000 people flood through the gates of the MTC for today’s Wagga Gold Cup Chris Wilson will have the best seat in the house.
This year he will be riding his 17hh Quarter Horse/Percheron cross called Demo as he assists the field to the gates and later leads the winner back home after the finish.
12pm: Well, we’re almost into the racing side of things now.
Daily Advertiser editor Dan Johns has his say on racing in today’s editorial.
“In the age of outrage, the image of whip-wielding midgets thrusting thoroughbreds down the straight while frenzied punters urge them on is bound to court controversy.
And so it has.
Just this week, animal activists have picketed the famous Warrnambool racing carnival, demanding an end to the “barbaric” sport of jumps racing.
Wielding placards emblazoned with “Horse racing kills” and “Ban jumps racing”, the liberationists hurled guilt grenades at racegoers as they entered the course.
It’s dangerous to mount a counter argument in the face of such emotive political correctness, but here goes. Read on
11.30am: Added us on Snapchat yet?
Don’t forget to add dailyadvertiser, use the Gold Cup filter and send us a 10-second snap to be in the running to win $50 gift cards.
10.50am: If all that was clear as mud, maybe this is a better guide for you.
10.30am: Not sure who you’ll be backing today? Let’s see if we can help.
Wagga trainer Dave Heywood is chasing a second Wagga Gold Cup today and he’s got a plan to get him there. Dyrham Park enters this year’s Gold Cup as the 100-1 joint outsider and while Heywood concedes he has a task in front of him, he believes his horse is capable of running a big race.
World-class jockey Tommy Berry has done the form and plotted a plan to guide Cool Chap to victory. Berry will climb aboard Cool Chap for the first time today as the horse looks to go one better than his second placings in the Canberra and Albury Cups.
Wagga trainer Trevor Sutherland is not a subscriber to Gentleman Max purely making up the numbers as he chases a hometown victory – also with a 100-1 outsider.
Life Less Ordinary is the $3.50 favourite to win the $150,000 Wagga Gold Cup (2000m), ahead of Cool Chap at $7.00, and Pemberley, Montauk and Stampede all at $8.00. Sportsbet’s Christian Jantzen said the money for the Chris Waller-trained Life Less Ordinary has been relentless.
10am: Good morning and welcome to The Daily Advertiser’s coverage of the 2017 Wagga Gold Cup.
We’re in for a cool 22 degrees on what is arguably the hottest date on the city’s social calendar – so maybe a jacket or shrug will come in handy once the day gets on!
We’ll have reporters and photographers at the track all day today, but if you can’t make it to the races, this is the place to be.
This year’s Gold Cup Hot 100 – the best of trackside fashion – has a massive prize thanks to Wagga Marketplace. So keep an eye out for out Hot 100 photographers and you could be in the running for a $500 fashion spending spree.
You can follow our coverage in this story, on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. If you haven’t added dailyadvertiser on Snapchat yet, today’s the day to do it.
We’ve a special giveaway with $50 gift cards up for grabs – all you have to do is add the DA, use our Gold Cup filter and send us a snap!
Each snap received counts as an entry and they will be screenshotted for an online gallery.
But let’s get down to business: Rose's Song will be out to win the Prelude-Gold Cup double today and here are the five Gold Cup fashion dos and don’ts.
Daisy Huntly
You'll find my byline on breaking news, live blogs and anything in between. Got a tip? Email dhuntly@austcommunitymedia.com.au.
You'll find my byline on breaking news, live blogs and anything in between. Got a tip? Email dhuntly@austcommunitymedia.com.au.
