After a long, cold winter, racing is finally back in Armidale.
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Local punters will have the chance to see action on their home track for the first time in more than two months when racing returns to Armidale with a seven-race meeting on Monday.
It is an earlier than expected start to the new season for the Armidale Jockey Club with Monday’s meeting transferred from Tamworth due to track renovations.
“It’s good to have it back,” Armidale Jockey Club secretary Jim Dedes said.
“We are not expecting a big turnaround with the transferred meeting from Tamworth.
“But it’s still good to have racing back.”
The track renovations in Tamworth will see Armidale granted three extra meetings in the 2015-16 season to boost the number from 12 to 15.
“It’s a bit of a bonus for us,” Dedes said.
“They are all mid-week meetings, but it all helps.”
Ninety-eight nominations were received for the seven races resulting close to capacity fields in all seven events.
“That was very good,” Dedes said of the number of nominations.
“It’s looking like it’s going to be a good start to the season.”
The Armidale track has emerged from the winter months in supreme condition according to Dedes.
“The track is looking terrific,” he said.
“It has a great grass covering on it and once it gets a bit of warmth into it, it will green up nicely.
“The rain earlier in the week has helped immensely.”
Local trainers will have a huge presence at Armidale’s first meeting of the season.
Justin Blanch will have two chances with Play My Hand in the first and Caravel in the fifth.
Robert Knight has a double shot at a win in the first with Havelock Express and Yammanna.
Race two is littered with Armidale-trained horses including Frank Tanner’s Positive Thoughts.
Keith Smith has White Goddess in the second and Random Ruler in the seventh.
Lea Selby has three runners including Zoe Is The Best in the second and From The Valley and In God I Trust in the seventh.
Paul Grills also has three runners including Dreamtime Gal in the fourth, Nadia’s Magic in the fifth and Dusty’s Felt in the seventh.
Stirling Osland will field Captain Shazam in the fifth.
