Since the first race was run in 1877 the races have only ever been cancelled a handful of times. The first for a few years during the first World War and last year during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Bligh Picnic races have been an ongoing tradition in Mudgee since 1878 and on Saturday, the event will take place from 1pm at the Mudgee Racecourse for the 143^rd time.

It has a long history as one of the most glamorous sporting and social events of the year in the Mudgee district, which was originally spread over two days of picnic racing as well as an evening ball, both of which return this year.

Bligh amateur racing club secretary John Loneragan said people are eager for the races to return after a historic year off.

"With no races last year there's been a bit of pent up demand. The record number of people attending in any previous years was about 600 and we're expecting about double that this year," he said.

"Everyone is quite excited. We're the longest continuously raced picnic club in Australia. That detail might be boring for most people but it's a little bit of history for Mudgee, which is always good considering Mudgee's changing so much at the moment."

Lizzy Galloway who looks after publicity for the racing event said the Bligh races are synonymous with the history of Mudgee.

"I think it's the tradition of the races that's has such a history in this area," she said.

"It started off as a racing on people's properties. And it was also where Hugh Bowman started riding, and he comes most years and says, you know, 'without the picnic races, there wouldn't be so many opportunities for jockeys to learn their craft'."

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