Best Cup in 10 years on the cards

THE Lismore Cup will take place next Friday, September 27, with organisers predicting it will be the best event in a decade due to strong ticket sales and excellent track conditions.

Lismore Turf Club secretary/manager Scott Jones expressed his excitement, praising the track’s condition.

“It’s brilliant,” he said. “The track is in great nick. It’s the best grass we’ve ever seen.”

Mr Jones said a recent race day had been cancelled due to rain on the day, but the club was confident the track could stand up to the weather.

Staff had been busy watering and preparing the grass so it holds up over eight races on Cup Day, whatever the weather.

And a great track means great racing.

“It means all of the horses have a great chance of winning,” Mr Jones said. Moving the Cup to a Friday from its traditional Thursday has proven popular.

In the past, the council had gazetted a public holiday for Cup Day, but councillors had decided against it in the past two years. Mr Jones said the decision had impacted gate numbers.

In 2022, the event fell on a public holiday to mourn the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, but it was cancelled after two races due to heavy rain.

And last year, numbers were down.

But tickets to this year’s event have been selling fast, vindicating the change of day decision.

Trackside tables have sold out and the VIP marquee and members’ tables are proving just as popular. But there are plenty of general admission tickets left.

Mr Jones said it was a day for the community to dress up and to have fun. Then there’s the racing.

The main race has been shortened this year and will now run over 1500m – previously 2100m – with $75,000 prize money.

Total prize money for Lismore Cup Day is $350,000.

The main race will also be eligible for qualification for the $3 million Big Dance.

The Big Dance is a 1600m event run at Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day each year.

The field for Lismore Cup Day will be finalised next week.