The traditional Anzac Day race meeting will be held at the Cessnock Racecourse on Thursday April 25.
The holiday race meeting attracts the largest crowd of the year to Cessnock and the Newcastle Jockey Club is promoting the day as a family day. This year there will be a jumping castle, face painting, live music, food vendors and of course Two-Up.
Service men and women are admitted free of charge and each will receive a complimentary drink. Picnic lunches can be brought in and there will be a special light horse re-enactment and ceremony.
Two years ago, the unveiling of the Bill The Bastard Memorial statue at the track was a huge success and the statue stands tall inside the main entrance.
This year the Newcastle Jockey Club is supporting the Hunter Defence Support Network on Anzac Day. The network supports defence serving members and families and also to find employment when they are out of the force.
There will be six races on Anzac Day including the Amy Wilson Memorial remembering the late daughter of Bruce Wilson the retired Cessnock Advertiser editor
Admission on Anzac Day is $10. Last year the Jericho Cup was longest race ever held at Cessnock. The trip was 2700 metres and on Anzac Day the Hero Of Romance Handicap will be run over 2700 metres.
Cessnock Hall Of Famer Robert Thompson is expected to ride on his home track on Anzac Day. The history making jockey notched up win number 4,400 at Port Macquarie last week.
Local trainer Alan Smith and Brian Walker have met with success recently. Smith won races during March with She’s Just Sayin and Ghetto Boy and Walker’s winner was Sing Us A Song