LADIES DAY CUP SWITCH A GREAT SUCCESS

HAWKESBURY’S Evergreen Turf Ladies Day Cup is here to stay on a Saturday.

A near 4000 strong crowd voted with their feet last Saturday, ensuring the switch from a traditional Thursday date proved a winner beyond doubt.

“The new date was well promoted and it was a fantastic day where everyone on course enjoyed themselves,” Hawkesbury Race Club chief executive James Heddo said this morning.

“Being able to run a $200,000 Listed race on a Saturday complimented the Five Diamonds meeting at Rosehill Gardens, rounding off a brilliant week of racing in the Sydney area.

“Moving the Ladies Day Cup program, including the $200,000 Listed Evergreen Turf Ladies Day Cup to a Saturday, would not have been possible without the support of RacingNSW, and I am pleased that the feature race was a keenly run event attracting 14 starters.

“What also was pleasing was the amount of under 30 year-olds in attendance, springboarding off the success of The Everest and Golden Eagle meetings in attracting a new generation of racegoers.

“Along with an excellent eight-race program, the off-course entertainment was warmly received by the local community.

“We had record entries for the Fashions On The Field competition and, apart from the Best Dressed Lady, we also created a special Best Dressed Lady category for women in the Richmond and Windsor areas, which was very well received.”

HARLEM QUEEN TAKING OUT THE $200K LADIES DAY CUP

Hawkesbury now has four Saturday dates annually, and Heddo is understandably thrilled with all of them.

“We have a well established program of Saturday racing events and each has a different theme,” Heddo said.

“We have Groove On The Grass in March (which also coincides with a Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier), and then our stand-alone metropolitan Gold Cup meeting in May.

“Later in the year the Country Music Raceday in September is now followed by the Ladies Day Cup in November.

“Having these four Saturday racing events provides the local community with greater opportunities to come out to the Hawkesbury races and enjoy everything we have to offer. “

Hawkesbury now is focusing on its two popular Sunday dates in December, specifically planned for functions in the Christmas period.

The December 7 and 14 programs end the club’s calendar year of racing, enabling important track renovation work to take place in the break before racing returns on Thursday, February 19.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, NOVEMBER 11, 2025 - RACING PIC BRADLEY PHOTOS