"It's on everyone's lips."
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It's renowned for serving up the best country racing has to offer and preparations are well under way for Mudgee's installment of the 2020 Country Championships.
With track inspections on the up and up, everything is all ready to go for one of the biggest days out for Mudgee Race Club's calendar.
Tickets have been snapping up with Mudgee Race Club secretary Colleen Walker spilling the beans that families of certain South Sydney Rabbitohs and St George Illawarra Dragons players will be attending.
"We've had a great response and phone calls from families of the players who will come up to watch their sons play at the Charity Shield," Walker said.
The words got out, it's a day to be there.
- Mudgee Race Club secretary, Colleen Walker
Ray Hadley will be making a special appearance in town on the Friday before, as organised by Racing NSW, to drum up some promotion for the event, with Walker encouraging people to head out the track to watch.
"Ray's job will be to promote the racing and Mudgee so it's a great opportunity, it's very cool," she said.
"It's all thumbs up, we're going to have a bacon and egg rolls and coffee breakfast at 8am and the first 50 people to come will get entry tickets to races on the Sunday."
While the meet will be of much benefit to Mudgee, Walker says the Club are aiming to make it a day out for everyone from all parts of the region.
"We want this to be a real region event for everyone to enjoy, you don't have to particularly be into racing but there's so much to do," she said.
"You can come and have a family day out. There will be jumping castles, fairy floss and popcorn, and the Hot Potato Band will entertain, it's just a fresh day of sunny air."
Despite the fields not yet being released, it is likely there will be an appearance from Hugh Bowman as well as local horses including Gayna Williams-trained Healing Hands and David J Smith's Diablo.
While there is still some work to do, Walker says the event will undoubtedly do the Country Championships proud.
"There's still lots of touches to do because this will go all over Australia and I believe it will be televised in North America," she said.
"We're so proud and just hope that the rain comes because everyone needs it but the forecast is for late showers, we hope they're right.
I am sure that we will shine. I do say that because we put in a lot of bloody hard work to make it happen.
The Central Districts leg of the 2020 Country Championships will be held at Mudgee Racecourse on March 1.
Jay-Anna Sleeman
Reporter for the Western Advocate. First began as a sports journalist with ACM in 2018 before moving on to cover news and court.
Reporter for the Western Advocate. First began as a sports journalist with ACM in 2018 before moving on to cover news and court.
