THE 2026 Warialda Cup meeting on Saturday will be more than just a race meeting, with the entire community getting behind the town’s big day of the year.

Local business houses and shops have decorated store windows and kids across the district have the crayons and pencils out as they try to win a huge colouring-in competiton.

Warialda Jockey Club president Andrew Phillips says cup day is a day for everyone.

“We’re trying to make the day an event, rather than just a race meeting,” Phillips said.

“We want race-day to be a family day out – not just a day for horse-racing and the racing crowd. We want everyone to enjoy the day.

“We’ve set up a beautiful, leafy, shady area for children to play and have fun, and we encourage families to utilise this space and put up gazebos and throw out some picnic rugs.

“There will also be a sandpit for the little ones to get a little bit dirty,” he smiled.

Phillips said the entire town was getting behind Warialda Cup day as the big event draws closer.

“We’re running a window-dressing competiton, with all the shops in town participating,” he said. “That will be judged on Wednesday, and the winner receives $200 to donate to the charity of their choice.

“We’re also running a colouring-in competition for the kids, with three $20 gift vouchers at Warialda Newsagency as prizes for each age group,” he said.

The Warialda Cup meeting on Saturday will be more than just a race meeting, with the entire community getting behind the town’s big day of the year (Image Supplied).

The club yesterday received 47 nominations for cup day, including nine for the 1400m Coolatai Rural-Anipro Warialda Cup and eight for the 1000m Peter Sinclair Racing Darren Jones Memorial Sprint.

The cup and sprint feature races are supported by a 1700m BM-50 handicap, 1170m BM-45 handicap, 1000m maiden plate and 1400m maiden handicap.

Apart from all the action out on the track, the club will also hold yabbie races between each horse race, with money raised donated to local organisations and charities.

“The yabbie races have been very, very popular at past meetings,” Phillips said.

“There will be at least three races, and they tend to generate a lot of interest.

“One of our committee members has built a little obstacle course for the last race – Warialda’s version of the Grand National,” he laughed.

“There will be six yabbies in each race, with yabbies sold off, similar to a calcutta on the horses.

“Once they’re sold, there can be a little bit of friendly side-betting as well, a mine-will-beat-yours type of thing.

“The club also takes a percentage of the money raised when the yabbies are auctioned, and we donate that to a local charity – last year, Warialda Little Athletics Club was the recipient,” he said.

Race-day also features Autumn Fashions on the Field and entertainment by Greg ‘The Hat” Henry throughout the afternoon.

“The DJ will start playing some light music at midday and ramp it up going into the night,” Phillips said.

Fashions on the Field, sponsored by Connect Home Care, Hair by Claudia, Easy on the Eyes, The Beauty Spot and JWc, has ladies, men’s and junior categories.

“The fashions on the field competition is quite extensive, and we pride ourselves on the prizes we offer,” Phillips said.

“Last year, we had some fantastic prizes worth quite a bit of money, and that’s pretty good for a small town.

“This year, we again have some valuable prizes across several categories catering for men, women, couples, teenagers and children,” he said.

A courtesy bus will operate from 11.45am until late, with drop-offs and pick-ups every half-an-hour from the Royal Hotel, IGA, and Sunflower Motel and Caravan Park.

Weights for the meeting are finalised later today, with final fields and barriers announced at 9am, Thursday.

Warialda Races

When: Saturday, April 11, 2026

Where: Warialda racecourse

Time: From about midday. Courtesy bus operating throughout the day.

Tickets: Warialda Cup at Try Booking.