Racegoers will have the opportunity to see Cessnock’s champion jockey Robert Thompson in action on his favourite track.  

Thompson the ‘punters pal’ is always good for a winner or two or three on the track where he learnt to ride more than 40 years ago.

Newcastle Jockey Club - which conducts racing at Cessnock - will cater for racegoers on Tuesday with free admission and a complimentary racebook.

On Tuesday the latest ‘Big Thing’ in NSW racing will be on show.  

Twenty two year-old apprentice Samantha Clenton currently apprenticed to Newcastle trainer Kris Lees will ride at the Cessnock meeting.  

Clenton has already ridden 43 winners in the first four months of the current season and she leads the NSW Apprentices Premiership.

Leading provincial rides Andrew Gibbons, Grant Buckley, Jeff Penza and Paul King will all be in action on Tuesday.

It has been another successful year of racing at Cessnock with the highlight being the performance of Thompson riding his tenth Jungle Juice Cup winner aboard Youthful King.  

Cessnock’s favourite racing son achieved a phenomenal milestone during the year when he booted home his 4000th winner.  

Then followed a magnificent luncheon hosted by the Newcastle Jockey Club at Cessnock’s Crown Plaza to honour Thompson’s milestone.

Cessnock is a proud racing town with many successful owners and trainers living in the area.

The 2014 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist has been spelling at Ellalong Farm owned by the Lees Family.

It is always country racing at its best at Cessnock and next Tuesday’s meeting will be no exception.