Club to create horse racing history

LISMORE Turf Club will host the Northern Rivers Racing Association Country Championship qualifier next month, marking the return of the historic $150,000 race after last year’s washout.

The road to the $1 million final at Randwick for local owners and trainers begins at the Lismore venue on Saturday, February 22.

The washout marked the start of a rain-affected year, which also saw the Lismore Cup cancelled due to wet weather in September.

Secretary-manager Scott Jones said the club is now preparing for what could be the biggest race in the history of the track.

“This is the biggest race we’ve ever had, it’s a bit like our Everest,” he said.

“Last year the presale tickets were the most we’ve sold.

“We’re grateful for Racing NSW for allowing us to have a turn, one thing about Lismore after the floods is if you put an event on, people will come out and support it.

“This is a chance for everyone to see the best race the club can offer.”

The Country Championships series is made up of seven regional qualifiers and two wild card races.

The final will comprise 16 starters with the first two finishers in each regional qualifying race and the winners of both wild cards.

In other Northern Rivers racing, the Kris Lee-trained Lord of Biscay won the $65,000 Ballina RSL Club Summer Cup last week.

Four-year-old gelding Captain Fenkel finished second after making the trip down from the Gold Coast with trainer Marcus Wilson.

Both horses qualified for the $3 million Big Dance at Sydney in October.

The next Northern Rivers race meeting will be held at Tweed River Jockey Club on Saturday, January 25.