Turf club to raise thousands for helicopter service at Christmas Cup

LISMORE Turf Club is set to raise thousands for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service with crowds to flock to the races for its annual Christmas Cup.

It will also double as an end of year celebration and community event on Friday, December 19.

The event has raised more than $10,000 for the helicopter service and is a cause close to turf club secretary manager Scott Jones.

He needed to be flown to hospital in 2017 after he was badly burned in a gas explosion at the venue.

“The crew were fantastic working on me, and I always wanted to give something back,” Jones said.

“I was able to be flown to Brisbane instead of Sydney which my family really appreciated.

“It’s a service that has helped so many people around our region in one way or another.”

The rescue helicopter lunch and corporate marquee sites are sold old with limited seating available on the trackside tables.

The club has had limited race meetings this year after a run of washouts.

There was about 4000 people at the Lismore Cup in September with about 1000 expected for the Christmas Cup.

The club usually undergoes maintenance in February and is top shape for another meeting on January 4.

“The track bounced back from the flood in March and damage from Cyclone Alfred,” Jones said.

“We used to double the fertiliser and aeration that we usually put into it and it’s really healthy now.”

The helicopter service will also run raffles, auctions, and a barbecue on the day.

Gates open at 11.30am with eight races on the day with a combined prize pool of $210,000.

Tickets can be purchased at lismoreturfclub.com.au