Kempsey Race Club lauds local support for Kempsey Cup

The day was celebrated under COVID-19 restrictions with a 500 person crowd limit. 100 of that limit were owners with 400 the general admission.

Related:

Kempsey Race Club secretary, John Graham, was ecstatic with how the day went.

"It was great day, great support from local people on the Macleay," he told the Argus.

"It's so pleasing knowing Kempsey and Macleay people really back anything if you put the effort into it.

"The girls had to take 500 names and phone numbers so it was different preparation but as you can see the day turned out perfect... a lot of people asked us to keep the tables and chairs under cover so it's something to look at for next year."

Tas Morton's six year old gelding Mister Smartee was the Kempsey Cup winner by two and a half lengths after a great ride by jockey Luke Rolls.

With Morton based in Port Macquarie, Mr Graham expected a Mid North Coast winner for the big race.

"I wasn't surprised (to see a MNC winner), it's a good horse on its day," he said.

The Macleay Valley managed one win on the day with Redback Ratcliff's Bear The Crown taking out the Kempsey Macleay RSL Showcase, Race 6.

The Steve Keir Memorial (bm66) went to Gangika trained by Jim Jarvis.

Stay ahead with local news by signing up for the Macleay Argus newsletter here.

Overall, around nine horses from the Macleay Valley raced in the meet with three of those featuring in the Kempsey Cup with the Simonetta stables Prima Stella scratched before the race began.

The Kempsey Cup as a whole featured eight Mid North Coast runners, two from the Hunter Region and one from the Central Coast.