Some of the top big time jockeys in the country matched up with outstanding athletes to provide two phenomenal days of racing in Scone on the weekend.
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The annual Emirates Park Scone Cup Race Day and Inglis Guineas/Darley Dark Jewel Race Day have been hailed an outstanding success, made all the more impressive by the local trainers hitting the top notch.
Among the winners were Scone based trainers Rod Northam and Greg Bennett who joined many other country trainers to take the spoils.
The $2 million Scone Cup Carnival was held last Friday and Saturday with crowds flocking from far and wide for the spectacle.
People travelled from Innisvale, Tamworth, Newcastle, Sydney and further afield for the iconic two day carnival, which has built a reputation as one of the best and richest country race meets in the state.
Similar crowd numbers to last year were reported with about 8000 through the gate on Friday, followed by a further 4000 attendees on Saturday.
In terms of racing turnover, Scone Race Club chief executive officer Sarah Wills, was pleased as the turnover was well up on previous years.
Ms Wills said she was very happy with the numbers in attendance and everything went very smoothly.
She said the atmosphere of the event is something that is really special.
“There was a fantastic atmosphere on both days.
“Friday is the traditional cup day so there is always a great atmosphere that day, and on Saturday we got a lot of people from out of town visiting the races so it makes for a really exciting two days of racing,” Ms Wills said.
On the track, Ms Wills said the races saw very big fields sprinting with very high quality horses, which is the essence of the successful carnival.
“We had some of the big time jockeys riding including Craig Williams, Hugh Bowman, Tommy Berry and Jim Cassidy, so that makes it exciting.
“It was also really nice to have some local winners including Rod Northam and Greg Bennett, as well as lots of other country trainers that had winners.
“This really proves the form from the Country Championships held at Randwick as the horses really stood up and performed well here at Scone,” she said.
As always the Fashions on the Field was a fabulous success with outstanding entries in terms of numbers and quality, with amazing fashions on show.