THE Crookwell Picnic Race Club committee faces an enormous challenge in order to race at Binda next year.

Earlier this year Racing NSW staff deemed the race track not fit for racing.  At a second track inspection with Racing NSW race track manager, proposals were put forward by the committee to make sure the track will meet the standards for next year.

This means a financial outlay of up to $30,000, which the Club is prepared to inject to fence the track, aerate and seed where necessary.  There will be ongoing expenses including regular slashing of the track and removal of grass along the running rail.

At a recent meeting, committee members agreed to the financial commitment, but extra members are urgently needed in order to get next year’s race meeting up and running.  Help is especially needed in the lead up to the race meeting: whipper-snipping and mowing, marking tent sites, putting rubbish bins out, erecting temporary fencing, cleaning, setting up the dining area and other tasks that the small committee is finding very difficult to do before race day.  Help is also needed the day after the races when the area has to have all rubbish in the bins for the pick-up on Monday morning. The dining area has to be cleared, tables and chairs stacked, temporary fencing taken down and so on.

Extra people are also needed on race day to direct people to tent sites, man the saddling enclosure gates for the six races, sell merchandise and be on hand for the many unexpected situations that occur during an event of this nature.

A public meeting will be held at the Crookwell Services Club on Thursday, 28th May at 7.30pm.  If physical help is not forthcoming at the meeting, then the present committee members will be unable to do what is required to continue the proud tradition of the Binda Picnics.

Anyone unable to attend the meeting, but who is willing to join the committee, should contact President David Culley on 48 367 237 or secretary Dianne Layden on 48 32 1376 or 0466 996426.