Colours change, but July Carnival prelude remains

BY TIM HOWARD

A change of sponsorship arrangements will mean the Black and Gold theme that has become synonymous with the opening day of the Grafton July Racing Carnival on Sunday has gone on a back burner, but nothing else will change.

Clarence River Jockey Club executive offcer Michael Beattie said with Westlawn Finance taking over the sponsorship of the carnival’s premier event, the Grafton Cup for the next four years, the Black and Gold Prelude won’t be happening.

“It’s still the Prelude and all the usual aspects of that are unchanged, but we won’t be having the Black and Gold Fashions this year,” Beattie said.

He said the members of the July Carnival sponsors group The Kensei Club had taken over the sponsorship of this year’s prelude this year.

“This year the fve existing members, McKimms Real Estate, Grafton Gas & Plumbing, Southside Pharmacy, Blanchards Haulage, and the Maclean Hotel have been joined by two new members,” Beattie said.

“For the frst time in a little while we’re delighted to have new members in the club and we’re delighted to welcome Hodders Cleaning Services and the Clocktower Hotel.

“They’ve picked up the gate and members tickets for the day, so it’s free entry to the course for the general public on Sunday.”

Beattie said while the black and gold fashions would not be part of this year’s carnival, it hasn’t been forgotten.

“It’s something we’re defnitely going to revisit down the track, maybe beginning next year,” he said.

“It was one of those events the punters loved to be involved, but with the changes of sponsorship arrangement this year we decided to shelve it until we can decide on a format everyone’s happy with.”

The big fashion day, Grafton Cup Day on July 13, remains the main event in the fashion stakes.

“That’s when we want to see everyone in their fnest,” Beattie said.

On the racing side Beatties said the carnival is shaping up nicely with a bevy of metropolitanbased trainers contacting the club.

“At the moment it’s a bit too early to say who’s coming and who isn’t, but judging by the number of calls we’ve taken for entries on prelude day, we’re going to have strong felds,” he said.

Beattie said there were fve races on the opening day that were qualifers for races later in the carnival and these were attracting plenty of interest.

Beattie said all the Sunday events during the two weeks of the carnival, the prelude, South Grafton Cup and Maclean Cup days, were family friendly events.

“We’ve got great racing for the punters and for those who are not as keen on the racing side we have entertainment for the kids and music playing each day,” he said.