THE annual Moree Ag Supplies twilight Christmas race meeting in Moree doesn’t happen without the help of volunteers, organisations and in-kind donations from local businesses.

In terms of turnstile clicks, the meeting is one of Moree’s biggest events.

As a thank-you, Moree Race Club’s St Patrick’s Day TAB meeting next Tuesday features races bearing the names of the organisations that helped make the Christmas races jump from the barriers.

Club secretary Michelle Gobbert said the show simply doesn’t go ahead without voluntary help before, during and after the Christmas meeting.

“We’ve named five of the seven races on Tuesday after the groups who helped out at the Christmas meeting,” Gobbert said.

Tuesday’s seven-race TAB card features the 1200m Jock’s Hire Country Boosted BM-66 Handicap, 950m Pally School P&C BM-58 Handicap, 1600m Moree Rural Fire Service BM-58 Handicap 1600m, 1400m Moree Show Society Maiden Plate and 950m Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service Moree Support Group Maiden Plate.

Also programmed is the 1300m Moree on a Plate Class 1 Handicap and 1200m Patrons’ Country Boosted Maiden Handicap.

“There was no charge from Jock’s Hire for race-day fencing, in lieu of the use of our spreader to spread fertiliser on the playing fields used by the Moree Boars to host the Western Challenge in February,” Michelle said.

“Pally Public School P&C provided staff for the front gate on race-day and Moree Rural Fire Service provided staff for car park marshalling.

“Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service provided staff, many from our local support group, to sell drink tickets on race-day and Moree Show Society loaned the club a set of stairs for the truck the band used at the after-party.

“Moree On A Plate will be held at the racecourse on Saturday, May 9 – the Mothers’ Day weekend –  and Moree Race Club doesn’t charge the organising committee for the use of the facilities for the event,” Gobbert said.

Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service Moree Support Group manned the bar ticket sales table throughout the day and evening at Moree Christmas twilight races last year (Image courtesy of Memories by Maddie Photography).

As well as race-naming rights on Tuesday, Pally School P&C and Moree Rural Fire Service each received $1000 donations from Moree Race Club.

Moree Show Society also received $1000 for its Off The Track riding class program and Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service Moree Support Group received $10,000.

Tuesday’s St Patrick’s Day meeting has drawn more than 100 nominations across seven races, offering $195,000 prize money.

The $30,000 Jock’s Hire Country Boosted BM-66 Handicap has drawn 17 nominations, including track specialist Lesgo Don and last-start winner Gerety, both trained at Inverell by Ridge Wilson.

Armidale trainer Jane Clement has nominated Extreme Merger and The Great Armada for the BM-66 as well as Prince of Sepang in the Pally School P&C BM-58; Hardyo in the Moree Rural Fire Service BM-58; and Proclivity in the Moree on a Plate Class 1.

Tuesday’s meeting opens a big year for Moree Race Club, which also stages TAB meetings on Tuesday, June 2, Thursday, August 6 and Friday, October 30.

The club’s signature Agri Storage and Logistics Moree Cup meeting is scheduled for Sunday, September 6 and this year’s Christmas twilight races will be held on Saturday, December 19.

The 2026 Golden Triangle picnic racing carnival starts at Moree on Saturday, May 23, followed by Mallawa on Saturday, June 6 and Talmoi on Saturday, June 20.

“The St Patricks Day meeting on Tuesday has good noms – 107 all up. Who knows, there might be a few green drinks at the bar,” Gobbert smiled.

“We’re looking forward to getting back into racing after a few months off, with a big year ahead planned.”

Acceptances for Tuesday’s meeting close at 9am today.

Image: Memories by Maddie Photography.