TWO more racing clubs in Bathurst have been announced as grant recipients under the NSW Government’s Back to the Track program.
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Bathurst Greyhounds had secured $4530 under the program, and now funding is going to Bathurst Thoroughbred Racing and the Bathurst Harness Racing Club.
The thoroughbred racing club is the big winner, securing the maximum of $20,000.
Minister for Racing Paul Toole said the club would use the money to instill a love of racing in the next generation.
“The local thoroughbred racing club’s goal is to boost engagement with under 35s by setting up a young members’ marquee and offering a free year’s membership to the first 200 people who register,” he said.
For the Bathurst Harness Racing Club, the grant of $7450 will be used to support a new program that was successful in its first year.
"What we're organising is a Gold Crown tour, which will run for seven days during the carnival," club CEO Danny Dwyer said.
"We will use the money for the promotion of that tour."
Mr Dwyer explained that people coming to the Gold Crown from overseas and interstate would be picked up from the airport, stay locally and attend the racing carnival during their visit.
"We'll also take them around the Bathurst region," he said.
People have previously come from New Zealand, Victoria and South Australia for the Gold Crown Carnival and have given great feedback on the tour.
"There are a lot of horses that race that come from interstate and New Zealand and we saw this as an opportunity to bring more people in," Mr Dwyer said.
Mr Toole said the Back to the Track program was injecting a combined $400,000 into 25 regional projects.
He was pleased to see that a bulk of that funding would flow into Bathurst.
"It's great to see that all three of our racing clubs here have made applications and been successful," he said.
"It's more than just the racing, it is highlighting these great locations around the city."
