For many punters across Australia and the world, Saturday October 24 will mark the 106th running of the Cox Plate, yet in Armidale, the Armidale Old Boys Rugby League Club Race Day is set to take centre stage.
The six-race Sky 2 race day is Armidale’s second meeting of the 2026/27 season, and it kicks off a busy period for the club, which includes the Watson McNamara Watt Guyra Cup Day on Sunday, November 8, CanAssist Charity Raceday on Sunday, December 6, and Tooheys Christmas Cup Day on Monday, December 14.
“Now that winter is finished and we got our first meeting of the season out of the way, things are warming up, and the track is finally starting to green up,” said Armidale Jockey Club General Manager Michael Timbrell.
“This time of the year also means people are getting excited about coming back to the races for spring.
“We are coming into a good period of racing for us, and this next meeting, as well as our Guyra Cup and CanAssist race days, are well patronized.
“The CanAssist meeting is brand new, and while we have had a meeting in December before, it’s a good race day and a good time of the year to be racing.”
For the moment, Timbrell’s focus is on their upcoming meeting, which will see a good crowd out and about, including many Armidale Old Boys regaling their past efforts on the paddock, along with members of the Barbarians Rugby Union Club and fellow sponsors Family of League, Wallace Constructions, and John Fryer Carpet Cleaning.
“It’s Cox Plate Day in particular, and there will be good support from the town and especially the Rugby League Old Boys and other sponsors of the meeting, who have been first class,” Timbrell said.
“We are keen to build on last year, and hopefully we get good weather for the day, and a big crowd gets there.”
Being early in the season, Armidale Jockey Club 2026/27 memberships are still available, with the $60 price representing great value, which includes:
- Digital Membership pass with the provision of a fully transferable guest pass (for an extra $20) that provides free entry to all AJC race meetings.
- Allocation of 10 additional single-use guest passes providing free entry at all meetings except Armidale Cup Day.
- 10% discount on all drinks purchased at the bar.
- Right to reserve a table for up to six people in the main bar except on Armidale Cup Day.
- Entry into the exclusive Members’ Tipping Competition on all racedays with a $200 cash prize to the winner. You must be on course to enter and claim the prize.
- Reciprocal rights with various race clubs as negotiated and advised.
The tipping competition is proving popular, with locals keen to test their knowledge of the Armidale racecourse and local gallopers.
“We have a small but strong membership base that comes to most of our meetings, and one of the things we started last year and kept going this year is the members’ tipping competition,” Timbrell said.
“There’s $200 cash to be won at every meeting, and you have to pick a horse in the last five races, and you get points, and whoever is the highest at the end takes home the $200.
“We have the leaderboard written on a board, and at the last meeting everyone was checking who was out in front, and it generated good interest.”
For those wanting to attend any of the upcoming meetings, Trackside Marquees, Punters’ Packs, General Admission tickets and Season Memberships are available now.