Armidale Jockey Club's secretary-manager Jim Dedes described the recent downpours as a "Godsend" with Racing NSW confident the track will be ready to go for the highly-anticipated Armidale Cup.
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"We had the track manager, Dave Hodgson up from racing NSW on Friday, we walked the track," Dedes said.
"He was very confident, there are a few open spaces, or bare patches there but with a fertiliser program and this rain, in six weeks we should have the track pretty much perfect."
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The course hasn't seen a race meet since September with all meetings transferred to other tracks around the region but with the rainfall since the beginning of the year, Dedes is expecting the club's major event to be given the green light.
"We are only six weeks away, this rain is just a godsend really," Dedes said.
"If you had asked me two weeks ago if we would be racing, I would have said no chance.
"But it is just amazing, what that bit of rain has done.
"We probably had, since Christmas, over 100 mil."
More rain is still needed for the track to be up to scratch.
"Another thing Racing NSW is worried about is we haven't got the availability of water so if we do get a dry February, well we still haven't got a dam, haven't got a bore and we can't irrigate," Dedes said.
"We are just hoping to get a little bit every now and then, it would be bloody great."
With more rain forecast in coming weeks, Dedes is confident the track will meet the requirements.
They have commenced work and plans for the annual event.
With the Cup day expected to be the first race meet in months, Dedes is hoping to make it a huge occasion.
"We would like to make it a big celebration for Armidale too," he said.
"We would like all the business people and the locals to come over and support us, have a great day.
"There hasn't been much to celebrate lately so it is perfect timing for the town to get together and enjoy the day out."
