The Hunter River Times

If you can’t be trackside at Flemington on Tuesday, there is only one other place to be and that’s Muswellbrook Race Club.

The Skellatar Park track is the only one in the entire Hunter Valley to hold horse races on the day and what a day it will be.

So much of the event comes down to the timing of the Melbourne Cup at Flemington and the Big Dance at Royal Randwick and Muswellbrook Race Club general manager Trevor Taylor is sitting on the edge of his seat awaiting acceptances.

Three million dollars in prize money is up for the taking at the Big Dance with local trainers from Scone, Paul Messara and Leah Gauranich with Akasawa, and Cameron Crockett with Commando Hunt in the line up after winning their Gold Cup races in 2023.

There will be seven or more races on the Muswellbrook Track on November 7 expected to start around 12:30pm but the timing is still pending as we go to print.

Only 10 racetracks in New South Wales will be holding race programs the same day as the Melbourne Cup and the Big Dance and Muswellbrook is one of them.

“I know we will have seven races and we have horses nominated but we won’t be certain who is accepting until the next few days,” Trevor told The Hunter River Times.

“Then the jockeys are delegated horses and that too is pending but we are certainly hoping to see the extremely popular top Australian jockey Aaron Bullock return to our track.

“He is a popular jockey, knows the track well and is one of the most successful jockeys in Australia and we will be certainly excited if he is amongst the line-up,” Trevor said.

The first race at Flemington is 10:45am and every race across the country will be on the big screens at Muswellbrook Race Club.

Trevor has managed the Club for two years and says the Melbourne Cup and the

Big Dance is one of two of the Club’s biggest days with an anticipated crowd of more than 1000 people.

The other major event is the Muswellbrook Gold Cup Day to run in 2024 on April 5.

“It is a great day and there is nothing like watching the Melbourne Cup and the Big Dance while experiencing horse races of your own and we have all the food, drinks live music from Kyda Rock and all the excitement that goes along with the day right here,” Trevor said.

There is a variety of packages people can purchase online and for the first time Muswellbrook Race Club is running a free shuttle bus to and from the track on the day.

Picking up from 11:30am and dropping back to venues from 6pm include the points Centabrook, Muswellbrook Train Station, Muswellbrook Workers Club, Remington, Hermitage and Aldi. No bookings are required but please arrive five minutes before the scheduled time so you don’t miss out. Details are on Muswellbrook Race Club’s website.

“We are looking forward to a great track, an excited and friendly crowd and plenty of horse racing action on what we know, is traditionally the day and the race that always stops a nation,” Trevor said.

Muswellbrook Race Club will open its gates from 11am.

Meanwhile Ladies Day will be on Sunday, November 5, with loads of events including Fashions on the Field with $2250 in total prize money along with vouchers and gifts up for grabs.

*See page 39 for the Melbourne Cup Sweep.

-Di Sneddon