Roma has been booked out for the last month by eager racegoers and the campground at Bassett Park is expected to be filled to the brim with blow up pools, utes, pop-up marquees, and enthusiastic racegoers for the Royal on 99 Roma Cup race day taking place on Saturday, November 17.
Roma Turf Club president Brett Ashney said the eight races being held throughout the afternoon, will be broadcast on Sky One and Sky Two and, are all expected to have full fields, and that the competition on the track will be intense with more than $180,000 in total prize money up for grabs.
“The recent further commitment from the Queensland Government to Racing Queensland has provided a big boost to the total prize money being offered, with monetary rewards down to fifth place to be given,” he said.
“It’s a welcome incentive for the western districts industry for this great day of country racing.”
Brett said The 1640m Royal on 99 Roma Cup race is also the final qualifying race for the Country Cups Challenge to be held in Brisbane on Saturday, December 1.
“The Summer series began in Longreach eight weeks ago, travelled via each of the western clubs’ Cup meetings and will finish with the 16 bush sprinters racing for glory at Doomben on George Moore Stakes Day.”
He said in anticipation of the Roma Cup raceday, the atmosphere in the town is electric town on the Friday night on the eve of the meeting, as a Calcutta is held in the pub and travellers for the races settle into their swags and motels to prepare for the weekend racing festival.
“An influx of several thousand tourists to Bassett Park is boosted on the day by locals to forge a crowd of around 7000 people.”
The colour, movement and excitement which the Roma Cup races provide will merge together when gates open at 11am, with the action on the track beginning at 1pm, and the main race expected to take place at 4.30pm.
The Fashions on the Field competition will dominate the catwalk from 2pm, with an eclectic array of styles expected to be on show, and first-rate country music acts, Caitlyn Shadbolt and Route 33, will rock the racecourse into the night.
Brett said to expect some summer temperatures “as it wouldn’t be a Roma Cup without them”, and the odd weather drama, such as a summer storm, is possible.
“In 2017, the jockeys, after being deprived of the last ride of the day, went for a swim on the sand track, and were seen duck diving into the pools to make the best of some drought breaking rain.”
For enquiries please contact Jackie Erickson on 0409 898 623 or info@romaturfclub.org.au, and to book tickets visit ezregister.com/events/25626/
