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It’s labelled ‘The Jewel of the South’ – Sapphire Coast Turf Club’s massive two-day Bega Showcase Cup Racing Carnival that kicks off on Saturday.
But on Friday, hordes of sporting folk head down for the golf day where players receive two options with golf tournaments at both Pambula Merimbula Golf Club and Bega Country Club.
Saturday's raceday features the Tathra Bowlo Tathra Cup and has a Hawaiian theme so dress up for a complimentary drink.
The Club has kid's activities on both Saturday and Sunday with Epic Fitness kid's play, and there'll also be food vans, a kiosk and bars.
Following Saturday's race meeting the Bega Cup Calcutta is held at Club Sapphire that precedes the big raceday on Sunday featuring the $80,000 Bega Showcase Cup (1600m).
The Calcutta will be hosted by Sky Racing's Dave Stanley, Bega Cup Ambassador Kayla Nisbet and Millie Elliot (Boyle).
And being a Racing NSW Country Showcase meeting the program will offer $375,000 in prizemoney.
Sunday's meeting has a Family Fashions on the Field with body art and face painting courtesy of Art by Netty with free buses operating.
Meanwhile, jockey Jeff Penza makes a welcome return to race riding at Goulburn on Tuesday after being seriously injured which sidelined him for three months.
Penza was involved in a four-horse fall at Taree last October and suffered a punctured lung, numerous broken ribs, internal bleeding and a concussion.
"I've been busting to get back riding having put a lot of time into training and getting fit the past few weeks," Penza said.
Penza has secured three rides: Get Shafted (Race 1 for trainer Lynne Morrison), Rangarush (Race 2 also for Morrison) and Cintia (Race 8 for the Gerald Ryan/Sterling Alexiou camp).
Moruya galloper Rogue Lune will be putting his Championships claims on notice in the opening event, the Goulburn Produce Country Championships Preview (1300m), should he face the starter.
The gelding was also entered for the TAB Highway at Royal Randwick yesterday.
Rogue Lune has recorded three wins and three placings from his 10 starts including a first-up win at Moruya beating Bon Frankie, who then ventured to town and scored at Rosehill Gardens.
Alysha Collett, one of the form jockeys in NSW, has a fantastic book at Goulburn with seven mounts on the eight-race TAB card. The hard-working jockey also has four rides at Wyong this afternoon.
Alysha has ridden six winners from her past 28 rides and 44 winners overall, landing doubles last weekend at Kembla (Saturday) and at Scone on Sunday.
Her Goulburn rides are King Gutho (Race 1), Mandalorian (Race 2), Martindale Dancer (Race 3), Santasia (Race 4), Brisket (Race 6), Debello (Race 7) and Amnesia (Race 8).
Goulburn Race Club will host the $150,000 Country Championships Southern Wildcard (1400m) on Sunday 24 March.
UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Monday: Tuncurry, Armidale
Tuesday: Goulburn
Thursday: Albury
Friday: Taree, Bathurst
Saturday: Sapphire Coast, Tamworth
Sunday: Sapphire Coast, Murwillumbah
