Grafton gears up for five day racing carnival

Grafton’s 2021 XXXX Gold July Carnival offers the first of five days of carnival racing this Sunday (June 27).

For those who want to get an early taste of carnival action, entrance will be free this Sunday, courtesy of the race-day sponsors Westlawn, and, amongst other races, racegoers will be able to watch two important races being decided… the Grafton Cup Prelude (where the winner gets automatic entry into the Grafton Cup) and the John Carlton Cup (where the winner gets automatic entry into the Ramornie).

And although the now ever-present threat of Covid-19 remains an obvious on-going concern, the Clarence River Jockey Club is ready to manage almost any eventuality.

“We’ve got a Plan A and a Plan B,” confirmed club CEO Michael Beattie.

“I think that comes very much on the back of what we had to do last year when we were forced, because of the then Covid rules, to divide the racecourse up in different ways. For us, we were lucky in one respect, because over the five days of the carnival last year, we had to deal three different sets of Covid protocols and what we found last year was that with a bit of pre-planning and the right attitude, you can make changes very quickly.

“Whilst we have Plan A very much locked in at the moment, we have a Plan B which won’t be difficult to implement over the top should Plan A go pear-shaped.

“The big thing is that the staff realised last year that things could be achieved on a pretty quick turnaround and therefore it can be achieved this year if things go belly-up … which we obviously hope they don’t. So, we are well prepared.

“And, of course, punters also can call on their experience of having gone through all of this before.

“I do think though … any number restrictions aside … that one of the great ironies of last year that people read the Covid conditions and felt they were being restricted when they went to the races … but what those conditions said was that you could get up to watch a race. You could get up to have a bet. You could get up to fetch a drink. You could get up to buy something to eat or go to the toilet … otherwise you had to remain seated.

“Last time I looked, that is the only times you would get up at the races anyway.”

Beattie gave further insight into the interest the carnival has attracted from stables around the country.

“We continue to get interest from the major players every year,” said Beattie. “I think it is not only about the prize-money we offer, but it’s about the fact that the track invariably races probably as good as any winter track in Australia, so stables can plan about coming to Grafton with confidence.

“From the stables that I have spoken to over the last few days from down south and from the north, we are certainly going to get the support of the usual suspects, which we appreciate, but we are also going to get some who haven’t been here for a while.

“If you try and put your finger on what the Grafton Carnival has got that some other carnivals don’t have … I’d have to say I think it is the tradition. It might not be what it was thirty years ago, but it is as much the same experience as we can make it.

“The carnival is really embedded in the psyche of the town and I think wherever you go in Grafton during the carnival you can enjoy it on that basis. That’s what this carnival is all about.

“I tell people there is only one thing wrong with the Grafton carnival … and that is, if you go once, it might affect your future plans, because you are going to want to come again. It does that to you. It is a trap.

“So, yes, we are extremely happy where we are and we are looking forward to another great carnival.”

*The complete Grafton Carnival race-day schedule is as follows:

Sunday 27 June: Westlawn Grafton Cup Prelude Day.

Sunday 4 July: Grafton Toyota South Grafton Cup Day.

Wednesday 7 July: Grafton District Services Club Ramornie Hcp Day.

Thursday 8 July: The Maclean Hotel Grafton Cup Day.

Sunday 11 July: Maclean Bowling Club Maclean Cup Day.