RACE READY: People from across the state are anticipated for the first picnic race meeting in over 100 days when the annual Bedgerabong Picnic Races take place on February 12. Despite new COVID rules, the event shapes as a huge day with tickets selling fast. INSET: The day will feature a range of promotions and entertainment for the family including the highly popular fashions in the field.
The countdown is on until the Bedgerabong Picnic Races on February 12 and the buzz is starting to build after 100 days between picnic race days.
In NSW, the most recent picnic meeting was held on October 9, with Albury hosting a six-race pop-up meeting, while the Picnic Champion Series final, held at Coonamble on October 10, was the most recent picnic race held in NSW. In racing terms, it’s been the length of the straight and many are keen to get back to the track if not just for the social interaction at least.
Picnic meetings were meant to be held at Harden on October 23, Bong Bong on November 19 and Trangie on December 19, but the three meetings were abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bedgerabong is the next meeting on the Racing NSW calendar, with the February 12 meeting the start of what is a good stretch of picnic meetings, but it doesn’t change the fact that picnic troops will have gone more than four months without a race ride.
This year, it is hoped that the disruptions are a thing of the past with strict COVID protocols to protect all race goers in place for the first event of the 2022 calendar. It will also be the first event at Bedgerabong Racecourse in months with other events such as Australia’s Biggest Bogan Festival cancelled late last year due to the pandemic.
The day promises to be a cracking event with fashions in the field, TAB and plenty of things to do for the family. It will also be a welcome return for many who haven’t worked since the last picnic race meetings in early October.
With tickets selling fast, picnickers are encouraged to pre-purchase early to avoid disappointment. Go to: www.123tix.com.au/events/24230/bedgerabong-picnic-races
*Additional info courtesy of Jeff Hanson,Racing NSW