Coonamble Set For Bumper January Carnival

THE Coonamble Club has released details of its one-off Summer Racing Carnival for 2022.

After the Covid-19 crisis cruelled any hope of staging the 2020 carnival in its traditional October long weekend time slot, the Coonamble club made the move to shift the carnival to Australia Day week in January.

JANUARY COONAMBLE CARNIVAL RACING PROGRAM

The decision to stage the carnival in January 2022 and then again in October was made after the club lost the 2019 event also due to Covid-19.

The famous four-day event will kick off on Australia Day, Wednesday January 26, and runs through to finals day on Sunday, January 30, 2022.

New key sponsor Ned Australian Whisky are for the first time getting behind the carnival's feature, the $12,000-to-the-winner Gold Maiden (305m), while Garrard's Horse & Hound are once again throwing their support behind the event.

"The club is looking forward to staging two carnivals in 2022 kicking off with January's one-off event," event organiser Kevin Gordon said.

"It means double the opportunity for participants next year and on behalf of the club we extend a big thanks to the sponsors which have made the event possible.

"Being in January it's going to be hot so it's important to note GRNSW have just installed new air-conditioners in the kennels."

The club has released a revamped racing program and is buoyed by the commitment from the carnival's nine bookmakers that will all be in attendance.

"The program really does offer opportunities for trainers with greyhounds of all grades over a variety of distances," Gordon said.

"It's as comprehensive a program we've had and the introduction of the Coonamble Cup (530m) – supported by another first time sponsor in Tvati – is something the club is really excited about also."

While the carnival will offer record prize money, the contribution the event makes to the Coonamble community is another contributing factor for January's unique running.

"A lot of businesses rely on the carnival and they've been starved of it for two years now," Gordon said.

"The carnival plays a massive role in the town's overall economy and having spoken to a number of key businesses I know they are eager for January and then October to roll around."

On the Saturday morning, the hugely popular Calcutta will be staged at Coonamble Bowling Club where services to Whiskey Riot, Hooked On Scotch, My Redeemer, Ando's Mac, Fabregas, Beast Unleashed and Zipping Garth will go under the hammer.

"A huge thanks to the studmasters of these outstanding sires as well – their support goes a long way to making the carnival the success it is."