Gunnedah Jockey Club allocated new picnic meeting, following postponement of historic Wean Picnic Races

Racing NSW made the announcement following the recent abandonment of picnic meetings at Talmoi, Wean, Duck Creek and Carinda, due to a mixture of wet weather and virus concerns.

Gunnedah Jockey Club secretary manager Lyn Tongue said the meeting on Saturday, July 24, will consist of a six-race program, with each event worth $5000, including a Cup race.

The Gunnedah club has reached out to the Wean Amateur Picnic Race Club to include the Wean name on the Cup that's being run on the day, and The Leader understands negotiations are still ongoing.

"The Wean races are steeped in history and we all understand that, but it would be a shame if the Wean Cup name wasn't put out there this year," Ms Tongue said.

With the NSW Picnic Racing Association (NSWPRA) Picnic Champion Series final scheduled to be held at Coonamble Jockey Club in October, the picnic race due to be held at Wean was a required race for the championship, and therefore is being run at Gunnedah.

The Gunnedah meet is the second-last picnic meeting of the season before the final meeting of 2021/22 is held at Cobar on August 21.

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"At this stage it will be open to patrons on the day, but everyone has to sign in, and everyone has to have masks on," Ms Tongue added.

"There's other restrictions around drinking which mean you have to be seated, much the same as if you go out to any licensed premises really."

Wean Amateur Picnic Race Club president Les Alker said the committee is still hoping to host its flagship event, which was due to go ahead on July 10, in a different format.

"We're still hoping to host an event for our patrons, because the Wean races are unique in many ways, we have our fans, charities and we have a huge support base," he said.

Incorporating camels into the historic day has also been flagged as an option in 2021.

"It doesn't really matter what's running around that track, because Wean races is not about that, it's about people coming and having a great time," Mr Alker added.

It's the second year in a row that the meeting has been affected by the pandemic, with the committee making the tough call in 2020 to cancel.

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