Ballina Jockey Club ramps up family holiday entertainment

A FULL day of family entertainment has been locked in as Ballina Jockey Club gears up for its annual Boxing Day meeting.

General manager Matt Bertram said the club has shifted its focus in recent years, with the addition of miniature golf, Byron Bay KidzKlub and an appearance by Big Dog on the day.

“We’re a community club and we market it as a picnic day for the whole family,” Bertram said.

“We still get a really good crowd and it’s perfect for the holiday period.”

There are six Ballina race meetings scheduled on the calendar between November and January.

Racing NSW has worked with the club to secure a fully automated irrigation system, which will service the course as well as the B grass and sand track.

The upgrade is worth around $1.8 million and is expected to benefit the club well into the future.

“It’s been in the pipeline for a long time now, and it also includes drainage improvements,” Bertram said.

“The irrigation system will give us much more flexibility with watering and maintenance.

“The drainage work is really targeting the training infrastructure, which will make those facilities so much better.

“It puts us in a strong position as one of the premier training venues in the region.”

The summer racing carnival kicked off with a TAB meeting at Ballina on December 9.

Local trainers and jockeys will be among the leading chances on Boxing Day, before another TAB meeting at the club on Friday, January 9.

That meeting will act as a warm-up for the Ballina RSL Cup on January 16, which traditionally attracts the club’s biggest crowd of the year.

On Boxing Day, gates open at noon, with kids under 18 free.

There will also be free bus transfers, live music, bookmakers and full TAB facilities available on the day.