The Murrumbidgee Turf Club is honoured to present the annualWagga Gold Cup Carnival featuring the Tooheys Town Plate Day on Thursday May 1 and the Wagga RSL Wagga Gold Cup Day on Friday May 2 with $1 million dollars in prize money on offer across both days.
The Wagga RSL Wagga Gold Cup Carnival is the biggest two-day carnival in country NSW and will see a jam-packed program on and off the track featuring incredible racing, premium trackside hospitality and high-end fashion.
The final fields for the Wagga RSL Wagga Gold Cup, Tooheys Town Plate and JRC Electrical Services MTC Guineas were locked away at 10.00am this morning at the Barrier Draw in the MTC Members Lounge.
The Autumn racing atmosphere kicks off on Tooheys Town Plate Day, which sees an eight-race card, with the feature race, the Tooheys Town Plate (1200m) worth $200,000 prize money. Amongst those horses who have drawn well are Coast Watch for Richard and Will Freedman (barrier 9), Felix Majestic for Gary Nickson (barrier 6) and The Instructor for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott (barrier 10). Of the SDRA runners, Country Championship Finalist Canny Hell (Kym Davison) has drawn nicely in barrier 7 and Our Last Cash (Donna Scott) barrier 3. Ultimately, the barrier draw has made it a very intriguing race.
With 10,000 patrons expected through the gates, the $200,000 Wagga RSL Wagga Gold Cup (2000m) is the feature race with a strong support program featuring the $80,000 JRC Electrical Services MTC Guineas and the $75,000 Byrne Trailers Queen of the South.
The Wagga RSL Wagga Gold Cup features a good mix of local, provincial, and city runners and of those who fared best at the barrier draw were Bear On The Loose (Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott) barrier 1, Jimi Hendrix (Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald) barrier 2, and Matusalem (Chris Waller) barrier 6. The Tim Donnelly trained County Kilkenny has drawn perfectly in barrier 4 and Murrumbidgee Cup winner Helluva Soiree has drawn nicely in barrier 5 for Luke Pepper.
Friday’s race meet will see Renowned Horse Racing Presenter and Expert Lizzie Jelfs return to the MTC for the third year in a row conducting interviews, providing tips and engaging with the crowd. Race goers can also mingle with 7 Horse Racing Presenter Emily Riordan across both days of the Carnival.
Emily Riordan is thrilled to be back at the MTC after attending Country Championships Day, “I am so excited to be back in Wagga for the annual Wagga Gold Cup Carnival and to see all the amazing racing action across both days.”
“There is such a great atmosphere at the MTC and it’s such a unique race day experience, it really showcases country racing at its finest.”
The 2025 Faces of the Carnival, Sophie Grant and Adam Whicker, will be roaming on course interviewing excited race goers as well as assisting at the Presentation Stage over both days of the Carnival. The National Anthem will be sung by Rebecca Taber, who will set the tone for the horses to jump from the barriers for the 2025 Wagga RSL Wagga Gold Cup at 4.20pm.
The Kristopher Graydon Jewellers Fashions on the Field precinct will kick off after race two and includes a prize pool of over $20,000 which is made up of donations from the generous Wagga community. Judging this year’s competition will be Luxury Fashion and Style Editor for the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Damien Woolnough, Fashions on the Field enthusiast Viera Macikova, Multi Award Winning Milliner Andrea Cainero and Fashion Model and Influencer Demi Brereton.
Demi Brereton is looking forward to making the journey from Melbourne and seeing the amazing autumn racing style that regional NSW has to offer.
“I have heard so much about the Wagga Gold Cup Carnival and am so thrilled to be one of the Kristopher Graydon Jewellers Fashions on the Field Judges this year.”
“Fashions on the Field brings so much excitement to local stores and boutiques, it’s so amazing to see the economic contribution a two-day Carnival brings to a regional area. There are so many fantastic autumn racing fashion trends and I can’t wait to see them come to life at the biggest country race meet in NSW.”
Murrumbidgee Turf Club CEO, Jason Ferrario is looking forward to seeing the large crowds returning to the track for this year’s Carnival. “The atmosphere of the Gold Cup is unmatched to any other race meet in NSW. There is increased prize money on offer this year which attracts fantastic interstate trainers, horses and jockeys.”
“Seeing our local trainers showcase their horses as well as see ownership groups in celebration is the highlight of the Carnival.”
“Hospitality has again sold out in the weeks prior and general admission ticket sales at this time indicate another big crowd will be in attendance. The MTC recommends ticket purchases being made online, as this speeds up the entry process on race day”.
The Punters Podium will be in full swing across both days located near the main Grandstand with Sky Racing form expert Mick Wallace providing race goers with tips and insights into each race as well as placing bets on behalf of the Punters Club. Shares can be purchased for $10.
There will be no shortage of entertainment with Geoff Simpson and Jamie Way and Vino & Vinyl performing in the Tanqueray Cocktail Lounge, Aaron Oldaker performing crowd favourites in the Tooheys Punters Paddock, as well as Radio Velvet who will keep the dance floor pumping after the last.
This year’s charity partner Riding for the Disabled, Wagga will receive proceeds from the limited edition 2025 Wagga Gold Cup pins which racegoers can purchase for $5 from venues across course.
Gates open at 11.00am on both Thursday and Friday with bars in operation until 6.00pm. Free buses will be available on at the end of Wagga Gold Cup Day departing from the Slocum Street exit from 4.30pm and will do circuits downtown where Wagga RSL Club will be hosting the official Cup After Party.
