Newcastle's richest horse race is set to jump again on Saturday, November 16. The Hunter, a now six-year tradition and one of nine million-dollar regional races across the state, has become the marquee event of the local racing calendar.
Gates open from 11am on Saturday at the Newcastle Racecourse at Broadmeadow for the 10-race program offering more than $2.5 million in prize money, including the coveted Hunter, of which this masthead is a sponsor.
Getting to The Hunter race day in Newcastle
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Gates open: 11am, Saturday, November 16.
- Early members gates: 10.30am, Saturday, November 16
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First race: 12.35pm
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Last race: 5.55pm
- Fashions in the Field: Registrations close at noon.
The closest train stations to Newcastle Racecourse are Hamilton Station and Broadmeadow. Plan your journey with NSW Transport.
Several bus points drop off at bus stops around Newcastle Racecourse. Plan your trip by bus with Newcastle Transport.
A taxi rank on Darling Street at the main entry is operational on race days. Taxis arrive regularly throughout the day.
Newcastle Racecourse operates a complimentary courtesy bus from Newcastle Racecourse to The Prince of Merewether after Saturday race meetings. This bus runs on a loop from 3:30pm onwards, and the pickup location is on Darling St.
There are 300 parking spaces at the racecourse, with on-street parking on Darling and Chatham streets.
Entertainment at The Hunter
The Screaming Jets
Famed Newcastle rock band The Screaming Jets will play after the racing schedule on Saturday night at the Newcastle Racecourse and will be supported by the Hot Potato Band. Tickets are $30.
Fashions in the Field
Westfield Kotara resident stylist Kate Kohler will be joined by Wedding Chats founder Tommy Casha, Newcastle Knights' Frank Barrett, and Andrew Rundle of Rundle Tailoring in judging the Fashions in the Field competition at The Hunter race day in Newcastle on November 16.
Registrations close at noon on race day, with $750 gift voucher prizes for the best-dressed men and women and $250 vouchers for the runner-up and best hat.
Ladies must wear a hat or headpiece to be eligible for entry. Accessories are suggested to be matching or complimentary. Entrants must reflect an appropriate, personal race-wear style, and it is favourable, however, not compulsory, to show an interpretation of the season's fashion directions.
Gentlemen must wear a full suit and tie.
Forecast: Be ready for muggy race day weather
A ridge was building up across the coast on Friday afternoon as a high-pressure system to the south of the state moved to the Tasman Sea, while a trough extended from Queensland into the northern inland of New South Wales.
Saturday had a partly cloudy outlook with a chance of showers in the morning and afternoon after a possible thunderstorm on Friday evening. Winds were expected to tend northeasterly at around 20 kilometres per hour in the evening and tops of 29 degrees.
About The Hunter: Field and form
- Start time: 4.45pm (AEDT), Saturday November 16.
- Distance: 1300 metres
- Status: Group Two
- Conditions: Quality Handicap
The 1300-metre handicap poses a challenging read for the punters, with a full barrier that can scorn a wide draw and a first turn not far from the jump before a long straight home. The race favours sprinters and middle-distance, favouring graduating Group 1 horses from the set-weight Winner Stakes that last ran on November 2.
Sydney galloper Briasa, the four-year-old grey-bay gelding from Rosehill, trained by John, Wayne and Michael Hawkes, has emerged as an early favourite, having drawn No. 11 in the barrier, paying around $2.70 for a win and $1.30 for a place.
Briasa has won five of his six starts, and though the industry sources say the barrier draw could prove challenging, he presents a promising prospect.
Last year's storybook winner Coal Crusher, trained by Joe Pride, who is also running seven-year-old Private Eye (barrier draw 14), could make another inquiry and is said to be in good form but has drawn a challenging barrier position at No. 15 and is paying around $15 for a win.
Coastwatch, at No. 6 in the barrier, with outside odds at $34 for a win, has come off a strong showing in Caufield and has drawn to get the right run, insiders say.
The Kris Lees-trained local contender Rustic Steel ($17) has form on the local tuf and has drawn to get every opportunity. One to watch out of the No. 3 gate.
Of the five times that The Hunter has run, winners have jumped from the gate at No. 2, 4 and 7 once, and gate No. 14 twice.
Racing Schedule
The Hunter is the eighth race of the day, in a 10-race schedule that begins at 12.35pm after gates open at 11am.
- Race 1: Max Lees Classic (900m), 12.35pm; favourites: Secret Glory (James Cummings) and A Bar In Paris (Bjorn Baker) $3.30.
- Race 2: Midway Handicap (1600m), 1.10pm; favourites: Piraeus (Richard & Will Freedman), Harlow Mist (J G Sargent) $3.60.
- Race 3: TAB Highway (1600m), 1.45pm; favourite: Cable Express (Danielle Seib), $4.40.
- Race 4: Laren Parker Legend Mile (1600m) 2.20pm; favourite: Bullets High (Joe Pride), $2.40.
- Race 5: Handicap (1400m), 2.55pm; favourite: Pippie Beach (CJ Waller) $2.45.
- Race 6: Trans Tasman Trophy (1850m), 3.30pm; favourite: Gald You Think So (JG Sargent) $4.50
- Race 7: Spring Stakes (1600m), 4.05pm; favourite: Alabama State (Jack Pilkington) $3.60
- Race 8: Newcastle Herald Hunter (1300m), 4.45pm; favourite: Briasa (M, W & J Hawkes) $2.70.
- Race 9: Beauford (2300m), 5.20pm; favourite: Wyclif (C Maher), $3.90.
- Race 10: Handicap (1300m), 5.55pm; favourite: Uzziah (Scott Aspery) $4.
