The annual Bong Bong Picnic Races will be held on Friday, November 24. 

This year the event has a historical theme ‘Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow.’ After more than a century the 1915 Bong Bong Cup Trophy will be returned to the club.

The family of the late Paul Ramsey AO, a major Bong Bong sponsor, will donate the 1915 trophy to the club on race day.

A history booklet titled ‘Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow’, produced by club lifetime member Alan Chittick and club volunteers and will be officially released on the day, sharing the history of the races from 1886.

Mr Chittick said the booklet covered all the best parts of Bong Bong’s history. 

“The history of anything is important, many people today are interested in local history and I think that it’s important that the things that happened in our district be preserved for future generations,” he said. 

“A large number of people have attend the Bong Bong Picnic Races over the years without knowing the history of the races, the club’s struggle to survive and the victories. It’s important that we keep a formal record of how it  started well over 100 years ago.”

This year’s race day promises to be filled with colour and fun. 

Men will join the fashions on the field and the top horses from across the state will compete in the six-race line-up. 

The Bong Bong Cup will have a total prize money of $13000 this year. 

Gates will open at 10am and the day will begin with an official parade at 12pm. The last race will be at 6pm. 

The club is a community organisation run by volunteers, who are dedicated to seeing the great Australian tradition of the country picnic race continues in the Southern Highlands.

Full program of events: