LISMORE Turf Club will hold its first meeting since the floods with the Trinity Catholic College Cup set to run on July 16.
Free entry tickets can be secured prior to the event at LismoreTickets.com.au or at the gate on race day for $10.
Secretary-manager Scott Johns was optimistic about being up and running by April, but ongoing wet weather saw most local meetings abandoned during that time.
The starting barriers were flipped upside down in the first flood while the upstairs function area suffered damage.
Water went above floor level, destroying carpets, furnishings, electronics and kitchen facilities.
The members lounge is now operational with the club waiting on furniture and final repairs before race day.
The floods came at a time when racing clubs around Australia were starting to welcome back larger crowds.
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The racing side of the industry continued during the pandemic with trainers and owners relatively unaffected.
However, clubs felt the pinch with ongoing restrictions while jockeys were subject to stringent quarantine rules.
The Lismore Cup and other local meetings ran mainly without crowds while the ongoing wet weather played a factor in lost income.
"We haven't been flat out busy since 2019," Jones said.
"We had had 1200 at the Lismore Cup (in 2020) which was the biggest crowd for a country racing club coming out of COVID.
"It was good, but nothing beats 6000 people coming through the gates for a day at the races."
The Trinity Cup will feature a six-race local card, as well as TAB and bookmaker facilities for all the days racing.
Ballina Jockey Club will hold its next TAB on Tuesday with Grafton set for its major July carnival.
Meanwhile, tickets have gone on sale in The Kosciuszko sweepstakes for the world's richest race for country-trained gallopers.
NSW residents can purchase $5 sweepstakes tickets via the TAB App, local pubs, clubs, TAB agencies and at New South Wales race meetings.
Fourteen winning tickets will be drawn on September 8 with each winner then selecting a NSW country or ACT-trained horse to race in their 'slot', once they have agreed with the horse's owner group as to how they will share prizemoney for the race.
Mitchell Craig
Australian Community Media journalist with over 10 years' experience in providing quality news and sport stories.
Australian Community Media journalist with over 10 years' experience in providing quality news and sport stories.
