Trainers inbound for racing season

Don your trilby, press your suit, preen the feathers and click your heels because it’s almost time for the Broome races.

The first race meeting for the 2011 season will be held next weekend on Saturday, May 28. Highlights will include a fashion parade by new label Jade & Amber, performances by dance group Deck Arts, as well as live music during the day and music from local band North of the Rox in the evening.

Punters can raise their expectations for the main event according to Doug Milner of the Broome Turf Club, who said there will be four new trainers bringing horses to Broome for the first time.

During the off-season the club installed facilities for an extra 26 horses to be stabled, thanks to assistance from the Minister for Racing’s Racecourse Infrastructure Fund.

“This should mean we’ll have bigger fields and more exciting racing,” Mr Milner said.

The first race date has previously been set on a long weekend. There are a couple of other changes this season including the return of the famed Woodside Mile race, last held in the 1980s, which will return on July 22 as the Woodside Cup.

Broome dates will include June 11 and 18, July 2, 9 and 22.