TALMOI picnic races at Garah, north-west of Moree, have long held a special place in the history of bush racing in New South Wales.

The popular meeting combines more than a century of sporting tradition with a deeply entrenched community spirit that continues today.

The Talmoi meeting is the third and final leg of bush racing’s Golden Triangle – the heart of bush racing in the heart of the country – after successful meetings at Moree and Mallawa.

The Triangle, as it’s affectionately known by racing folk, draws trainers, jockeys, owners and racegoers from across regional New South Wales and southern Queensland, with the three-meeting series regarded one of the most popular picnic racing circuits in eastern Australia.

The Talmoi Amateur Picnic Race Club is the oldest club on the Golden Triangle and one of Australia’s oldest picnic racing organisations.

Racing in the district dates back to the early 1900s and the club’s inaugural meeting in 1911 established a New South Wales record for a picnic race meeting when more than 200 nominations were received.

The first official meeting was held on November 9, 1911, at the Clifford course on the Meleebee property near Garah.

More than 200 spectators attended the historic gathering, where Hurricane won the inaugural Talmoi Bracelet before backing up later in the day to win again.

From the beginning, Talmoi established a reputation for innovation.

In 1912, the club introduced an on-course totalisator, a significant development for bush racing at the time.

By 1913, improvements included a grandstand, bookmakers’ facilities, a secretary’s office, weighing room and horse stalls identified with runners’ names – features considered advanced for a remote country racecourse.

Like many sporting organisations and events across Australia, racing at Talmoi was interrupted during the First and Second World Wars.

Following World War I, the meeting moved from Meleebee to its current location on the eastern edge of Garah.

A special race-day train service between Moree and Garah was established and operated for many years, becoming an important part of the race-day experience.

The railway connection remains one of the most colourful chapters in the club’s history.

In 2011, when the Talmoi club celebrated its centenary, under the presidency of Andrew Crowe, the historic train journey was recreated.

Visitors travelled from Sydney and regional centres to Moree before boarding a special train to Garah on race day.

Vintage vehicles and a horse-drawn wagonette greeted passengers on arrival, helping recreate the atmosphere of a bygone era.

The centenary celebrations brought an estimated 4000 people to Garah and earned the club Racing NSW’s Community Race Club of the Year award.

Throughout its history, Talmoi has produced many memorable racing moments.

The first recorded Talmoi Cup winner was Eupunya in 1925.

In 1961, champion picnic horse Mulgate became the first horse to win the Moree, Mallawa and Talmoi Cups in the same season, creating the Golden Triangle treble that remains one of bush racing’s most prized and sought-after achievements.

Other horses later matched the feat, including Yakinova, Gefilte and Tapakeg, while the legendary Passing Trade won all three cups twice, in 1970 and 1973.

One of the most remarkable performances occurred in 1986 when Uncle Marty became the first horse to win both the Talmoi Bracelet and the Talmoi Cup on the same day.

Ridden by Rodney “Cookie” Kermond and trained by Mick Hicks, Uncle Marty’s feature double remains one of the club’s most celebrated accomplishments in the modern era.

While racing remains at the heart of the event, the Talmoi picnic races have always been about much more than the horses.

The annual meeting is a major social occasion for Garah and surrounding communities.

Families gather for picnics, local organisations run food stalls and barbecues, and volunteers from schools and community groups help ensure the day runs smoothly, with live entertainment, fashions-on-the-field and children’s activities race-day features.

More than 114 years after the first meeting, racing at Talmoi continues to thrive.

What began as a small gathering on a grazing property has evolved into one of the most respected and enduring picnic race meetings in Australia, preserving the traditions of bush racing while continuing to bring communities together in a celebration of sport, history and good, old-fashioned hospitality.

Talmoi Picnic Race Club rounds out bush racing’s Golden Triangle with six races at Garah on June 20.

The meeting, with online tickets available HERE, features the 1400m Warren and Ruth Hunter Memorial Talmoi Cup and 1000m Helen Boland Memorial Talmoi Bracelet.

Raceday highlights include a catered lunch and fashions-on-the-field as well as live entertainment and a big screen to watch local, provincial and metropolitan races.

Sponsors include B&W Rural, Kenway and Clark, Syngenta, Black Truck and Ag, TTS, Providore Global, RDO Equipment, BMC Partnerships, AFF and Orica.

Nominations for the six-race card close at 11am, Monday, June 15.

Bush Racing’s Golden Triangle

Talmoi: Saturday, June 20.

Online tickets for Talmoi: Talmoi Picnic Races TIX

Updates: Talmoi Facebook Page