The day is a Family Fun Day with free entry. There will be free rides and entertainment for the kids and the day is sponsored by the Cessnock Leagues Club.

Racegoers will be invited to donate a gold coin to the Rural Fire Service on the day.

It has been a very hot summer but Cessnock course manager Steve Tapp has been pouring the water onto the track and it has a terrific coverage of grass.

Cessnock trainers and riders are in good form wasting no time getting on the front foot Port Macquarie on Monday landing the quinella in the first race.

Cessnock trainer Todd Howlett produced the winner, Magic Beneteau who came late to beat Dead Reckoning trained by Jeremy Sylvester with Robert Thompson on board.

Thompson kept up his strong strike rate at the mid north coast track in the following race guiding the Kris Lees trained first starter Siostra to a comfortable win.

Meanwhile, preparatioins for the Hunter Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame are continuing. There will be two inducees in four categories including horses, trainers, jockeys and associates.

The selection panel consists of Greg Radley (Sky Racing), Gary Harley (Newcastle Herald and Sky Racing), Ray Thomas (News Limited) and Brian Judd (Retired Racing NSW Administrator).

The inaugural function to announce the inductees will be held at the Broadmeadow Racecourse on Wednesday, March 15.

In the past two years Cessnock’s Robert Thompson and Luskin Star bred by Cessnock residents Jim and Marea O’Neill have been inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.