Held every year in support of a local community initiative, this year’s picnic races will help raise funds for the Boggabri Rotary Club which aims to build a town skate park.

Wean Amateur Picnic Race Club President, Les Alker, said this year’s races will be bigger and better than ever with more  amenities and improved race facilities.

A brand new running rail will get its first official test on race day, with materials donated by Racing NSW and installation labour supplied by the club committee.

Les expects to run a 8-10 race card this year for punters and is always a big drawcard for family and friends from across the region.

“It’s a pretty big catch-up day,” Les said.

“Some people only get the this chance every 12 months to meet up.

“It’s a big family day out.”

He said supporting the Boggabri youth with funds to help build their skate park was fundamental to their cause.

“We support purely local organisations every  year, and they’re generally all out there trying to do good in the community,” he said. 

 The Wean racing tradition has proven to be a strong one over the years, back to when the race club was formed in 1932.

In later years during the 1960s and 70s, the picnic races would regularly attract crowds up to 3500 people from throughout the North West.

The Wean meeting has traditionally always been run during the school holidays when children arrived home from boarding school and family had the opportunity to catch-up.

Donations to the Wean Picnic Race Day cause are voluntary but it asked that patrons donate to help fund the long-running community benefit fund.

Race day is Saturday, July 6. For more information,  or to donate, visit weanraces.com.au