It was a gamble but it paid off.

Despite incessant rain which gave the Bong Bong organisers a week long anxiety attack, our picnic races proved another resounding success last Thursday.

A timely break in the wet weather ensured the day was greeted with a healthy crowd of just under 5000 people.

Bong Bong Picnic Race Committee Secretary Maureen Varnarsky said she was more than pleased with the annual race meet.

“I think it went fantastically,” she said.

“We had many good reports from people who enjoyed it so much.”

Ms Varnarsky said it was ‘a blessing in disguise’ that the races were held a week later than usual, because if the meeting was held on the usual date, the event would have definitely been cancelled.

To further acknowledge the success of the picnic races, Ms Varnarsky said it was complemented by a high standard of trainers and jockeys which are being lured to the race meet each year.

“The quality of trainers that are coming improves each year,” Ms Varnarsky said.

And more improvements are in line at Wyeera racecourse, with the jockeys’ and stewards’ rooms next on the list for an upgrade adding to the work on the track which has been completed over the past few years.

“The track is in fine order; over the years we have spent a lot of money on the track,” she said.

“So now its time to spend some money on the buildings and landscaping.”

Ms Varnarsky acknowledged that Picnic Races fall at the bottom of the racing industry’s priorities, and hopes that the association of picnic race clubs will get stronger, consequently leaving the Bong Bong Races in a stronger position.

“Some Picnic Races don’t get a date to 6-8 weeks out,” she said.

But she acknowledged the sponsor base for the Bong Bong Races has been very strong despite the trouble of attracting sponsors following the Olympics, and claimed without them the day would not be possible.

Adding to the formalities of the day was the recognising of Mrs Gloria Ritchie as a life-member of the committee.

Mrs Ritchie is the wife of Sonny Ritchie, who had been involved with the Bong Bong Picnic Race Committee since 1957.