Picnic racing season has arrived and so has one of the biggest social days on the local calendar.
The annual Canni Creek Picnic Race Day will be held this Saturday, February 10 for the 137th time and Buchan and Gelantipy Racing Club will warmly welcome patrons to enjoy a classic country race day and all it has to offer.
The 2023 event recorded the second highest attendance ever, only beaten by the return following the Black Summer Bushfires, and there’s high expectations for this year’s running.
The Buchan township, which is still recovering from the bushfires, also faced more hardship late last year when a post Christmas flood ripped through the village.
Club secretary, Ian Dunkley, said it is “a fantastic day with a real family-friendly atmosphere and said a great opportunity to support a community which has faced such adversity in recent years”.
An inclusion in 2022, a $2000 race bonus was offered to previous picnic cup winners, “to attract the best horses”, according to Mr Dunkley. The prize pool has now increased to $4000.
Picnic race days provide an important social connection for regional communities and you will no doubt find familiar faces in the crowd, or you may arrange your day to join up with family, friends or business acquaintances.
In such a relaxed atmosphere, dress code is country casual – almost anything goes – or you may wish to spruce up to compete in popular Fashions on the Field.
The day’s highlights is the running of the Buchan Cup – an 1800 metre race that will get you roaring along with the crowd as you will your steed to first place across the finish line.
On-course bookies or the tote will reward your win.
Located on Bruthen-Buchan Road in Buchan South, there will be prominent signs directing you to the Canni Creek race track and parking is free and plentiful.
Gates open at 11am and the first race, the maiden plate, will start at 1pm.
