Bid to save the Lightning Ridge Easter Races

Racing down the straight at Lightning Ridge. There are fears that, without community commitment, this may be the last year or this popular event. Photo contributed

This will be the last year horses are off and racing at Lightning Ridge, unless the Lightning Ridge Race Club gets more help from the local community.

Fun on the field is always a winning bet at the Lightning Ridge Race Club Race Day, but Melanie Bradley, Publicity Officer for the Lightning Race Club said the committee is almost stretched to its limits.

“Race day is on Easter Saturday each year, and this year it falls on April 19,” Ms Bradley said. “It’s a little bit later than last year, so hopefully it will be cooler.”

While the Easter Races are always a prominent part of the long weekend festivities, there have been many issues over the years that the committee has had to dealt with.

“We’ve had Covid, we’ve had washouts, we’ve had the track not being good enough – there’s been lots of hurdles along the way,” Ms Bradley said.

“Racing go back a long way at Lightning Ridge, and we’ve always kept it going, but unless we get some more help, this year’s race could be the final one. […]

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