Turf Club is on track as huge production takes shape ahead of racing season

It’s off to the races for a staple of Broome sports and one of the biggest drivers of tourism in the area. The Broome Turf Club’s 2023 season will start with the first meet on June 3. For new turf club CEO Kelda Jones the excitement is palpable. From the fashions on the fields, to a huge line-up of entertainment, and of course a series of hotly contested races, the season is on track to be a thriller. Ms Jones told Happenings last week the semitrailers had arrived with feed for the horses last week and the stage, including speaker system, had arrived. “The excitement is building and every day it gets even more exciting, because more is done,” she said. “There are so many local people who come and give us a hand every year. “It’s a massive undertaking and when it gets started people will love to come and hang out. “We did our first track work recently and that was fantastic because the track is probably the best it’s ever been.” The Broome Cup week sees the busiest period of air travel for Broome throughout the year. “The races and the turf club bring in a lot of people to Broome. It is one of the biggest events on the Broome calendar and it usually sees a huge crowd,” Ms Jones said. “We’ve already got some amazing trainers that are here. The set-up is quite phenomenal. There are semitrailers and vehicles with hay and feed that has been packed up and coming from Perth. Ms Jones said the club was planning to host a multi-stage music festival around the end of the season. “It will be just a total different experience from anything that we’ve ever done. Ms Jones moved to Broome from working for a major hospitality business in Perth and said the new job was like “coming home”. “I’ve always had horses, I competed as a child and my parents bred horses when I was a kid,” she said. “It was the perfect position and I have lived in Broome before, but moved back to Perth when my kids were young but still returned every year. “I love Broome and it is like coming home for me really.” Ms Jones said the Turf Club had lined up key sponsors that meant the club would have “amazing drink offerings”, including espresso martini and margarita slushies.