The wet weather that has devastated most of our state has directed a lot of Race Days and non-Race Day events (transferred) to the venue. Despite not having any Saturday Race Days scheduled for the month, Newcastle welcomed two transferred meetings from Hawkesbury Race Club and Wyong Race Club along with a number of non-Race Day events.
In anticipation of the Horsepower Newcastle Newmarket Race Day, 250 members of the Beauford Club gathered in the Trackside marquee to celebrate the sport of Racing. Ex- Knights player and racing enthusiast Andrew Johns along with popular mounting yard expert and racing media identity Lizzie Jelfs took to the stage for an interview with Sky Racing’s Gary Harley.
The Newcastle Newmarket Handicap is Newcastle Jockey Club’s Group 3 Thoroughbred open quality handicap horse race over 1400m. Regarded as the premier Autumn Race Meeting of The Hunter, the meeting attracts a prize pool of $160,000. For the fourth year in a row, Newcastle-based Kris Lees took home the win with Wandabaa ridden by Jason Collett.
Meanwhile, in the Trackside Marquee, the annual International Women’s Day event was on again for the third year running. After a week of rain, the sun came through for ladies and gentlemen to come together to celebrate the achievements of each other over a mouth-watering three course meal and free flowing Moët. Attendees heard from Guest speaker Lizzie Jelfs and watched the excitement unfold for the Newcastle Racecourse and Matthews Jewellers raffles and auction for Clare O’Hara’s beautiful art piece. 2022 saw a record total of $34K of funds raised for our charity partners Got Your Back Sista and EquiEnergy Youth.
The next day (Saturday) saw the second heat of The Polytrack Provincial-Midway Championships scheduled for Hawkesbury Race Club at Newcastle Racecourse.
The smell of pastries, cake and fresh bread wafted throughout the Racecourse on Wednesday March 9 with the renowned Australian Bakers Association Judging event in the Pavilion Room.
The artistry did not stop there, with the Craft Alive Exhibition in the Glasshouse Betting Ring from Thursday the 10th of March until Sunday the 13th.
The sun was out and the birds were chirping on the morning of Wednesday the 16th of March when Newcastle Jockey Club’s CEO Duane Dowell, Hunter Water’s Managing Director Darren Cleary and the Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Nuatali Nelmes announced plans to investigate stormwater irrigation. The three parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding to commit to investigate the process, design and cost of capturing stormwater from a Hunter Water owned-channel, storing and treating the water and then its use to irrigate the Newcastle Racecourse and potentially three nearby City of Newcastle-owned sporting fields.
Newcastle Racecourse then held another Polytrack Provincial-Midway Championships Race Day on Thursday the 17th of March. Bringing home first place in the Provincial/Midway Eligible heat on her home track was Never Talk ridden by James McDonald, trained by Kris Lees. She now sits as the $4.50 favourite for the 1400m Final at Royal Randwick on April 9. The theme of celebrations continued into the night with NJC sponsor, the Klosters/Tony White Group hosting their 2022 staff awards night in the Trackside Marquee.
The Stronger Together for Spinal Support returned to Newcastle Racecourse for their Black Tie Ball- an event that sold out within an astonishing 48 hours. The night was a huge success. Hosted by Hamish (from iconic duo Hamish and Andy) the night featured a live band, door prizes, raffles as well as both an online and live auction which included a painting by Newcastle based artists Claire O’Hara. The night was a huge success raising approximately $100,000. Founder David Swain commented on the night’s success declaring “The night was such a hit and everyone is already talking about next year”.
Wyong Race Club found themselves transferring their heat of The Polytrack Provincial-Midway Championships to Newcastle Racecourse also as result of poor weather. Newcastle’s ability to host meetings in such abhorrent conditions is testament to the track’s drainage ability. That evening the University Of Newcastle North Tower held their Residence Ball in the Pavilion Room.
Monday March 28 marked a historic day for Newcastle Racecourse with the Rosehill Stakes Day meeting transferred to Broadmeadow. The highest Group Races Newcastle has held have been Group 3 with races including the Newcastle Newmarket Handicap and Newcastle Gold Cup. This meeting meant Newcastle were able to host world class racing with 2 Group 1’s, 2 Group 2’s and 2 Group 3’s. The Group 1 Races were the $1.5m Kia Tancred Stakes and the $500,000 Vinery Stud Stakes. Runner DUAIS took it home in the $1.5m Kia Tancred Staked ridden by Joshua Parr, trained by Edward Cummings. It was a sight to witness with the crowd roaring as Parr raised his arm in victory as he reached the finish line, and only got louder as he returned to the mounting yard to receive his prize.
This win marked a significant moment for Parr and Newcastle Racecourse. Parr first started his racing career in Newcastle, rode his first winner at the track, rode his first stakes winner and now has ridden his first group 1 winner here. The atmosphere of this Race Day was incomparable to any other, with thousands of racing enthusiasts filling up the grandstands and parents bringing their children to witness this piece of racing history.
Career Links hosted the annual Mini EV Challenge in the Betting Ring on Wednesday March 30. The event engaged with primary and secondary schools in Newcastle and surrounding regions to build solar-powered cars and raced them on 20m tracks. The same night Komatsu threw their 100-year anniversary ball in the Trackside Marquee.
In true Newcastle Racecourse fashion, the last day of March brought another Race Day with the final heat of The Provincial-Midway Championships before place-getters head to Royal Randwick in the bid to win $500,000.
The Racecourse will kick off April with the 2022 Variety Spin 4 Kids in the betting ring with a fundraising target of $70k, all are welcome to attend.
Newcastle Racecourse offers a range of venues to suit your function. If you’re interested please get in touch with our friendly events team on P: 4961 1573 or visit Newcastleracecourse.com.au.
March Events
- March 3 (Thursday): Beauford Club Lunch
- March 4 (Friday) Horsepower Newcastle Newmarket Race Day
- March 5: (Saturday) Hawkesbury Race Club @ Newcastle: The Provincial-Midway Championships
- March 9 (Wednesday): Australian Bakers Association Judging
- March 10-13 (Thursday to Sunday): Craft Alive Expo
- March 16 (Wednesday): Newcastle Jockey Club, Hunter Water and City of Newcastle announce plans to investigate capturing stormwater for irrigation
- March 17 (Thursday): The Provincial-Midway Championships
- March 17 (Thursday) Tony White Group Staff Awards Night
- March 19 (Saturday): Stronger Together for Spinal Support Black Tie Ball
- March 26 (Saturday) : Wyong Race Club @ Newcastle: The Provincial-Midway Championships
- March 26 (Saturday): North Tower Residence Commencement Ball
- March 28 (Monday) Rosehill Stakes Day @ Newcastle
- March 30 (Wednesday) Career Links Mini EV Challenge
- March 30 (Wednesday) Institute of Quarrying Australia, Komatsu 100 Year Anniversary Dinner
- March 31 (Thursday): The Provincial-Midway Championships
Upcoming Race Dates:
- April 9 (Saturday): The Burwood Inn Race Day
- April 21 (Thursday): Newcastle Race Day
- April 30 (Saturday): AHA Newcastle Pitcher Partners Race Day
- May 14 (Saturday): Hunter Melanoma Foundation Race Day
- May 21 (Saturday): Lambourne Partners Race Day
- May 24 (Tuesday): Newcastle Race Day
- June 4 (Saturday): Newcastle Race Day
- June 11 (Saturday): Newcastle Race Day
- June 20 (Monday): Wine Country Race Meeting at Newcastle
- June 25 (Saturday): Sleapys’ Foundation Race Day
- July 2 (Saturday): Clubs in the Community PINK Race Day supporting Hunter Brest Cancer Foundation
For further details, or to arrange an interview contact
Duane Dowell M: 0432 925 588