Racing will be welcomed back to Towac Park on Saturday, in style too.
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Racing Orange will hold its annual Ladies Day at the track this weekend, the TAB meeting the club's first since November 22.
The drought has forced racing stewards to move a thoroughbreds meeting and two harness racing meetings from the course in December and then February, all three moved to Bathurst after the Towac Park track was deemed unfit for racing.
That was mainly in part to the drought, Orange receiving just 15mm of rain throughout December while also enduring some record-breaking heat.
It's amazing how quickly (the track) can bounce back.
- Racing Orange chair Bree McMinn
With no bore on site, Racing Orange relies on rainfall to boost both the condition of the track and the dam in the middle of the course, which when full is used to irrigate the course too.
Racing Orange chair Bree McMinn said while the welcome rain throughout January and February hasn't made much of an impact on the club's dam, it has certainly resurrected the track.
"It's amazing how quickly it can bounce back," she said.
"We can't rely on much more than the rain. The rain we've had hasn't hugely impacted the dam, but it's certainly impacted the track, which we're very, very happy about.
"We had another 20mm over last weekend, as well as the rain leading up to that day, and it's made a huge difference."
Ms McMinn said stewards gave the Towac Park surface the green light after a small trial with trainers and jockeys last week.
Chief steward Todd Smith was on hand to give the final approval.
The thumbs up from officials paves the way for Racing Orange to ramp up its busiest time of the year, with Saturday's Epiroc Ladies Day meeting the start of a big two month period.
The club will host another meeting on Sunday, March 22, before the Orange Gold Cup on Friday, April 17.
Saturday's Epiroc Ladies Day will have fashions on the field contested, as well as live music at the track throughout the afternoon.
"Given it's a Saturday we're hoping to have a decent crowd, too," Ms McMinn added.
On the track, 94 nominations were taken across the six races, with Orange trainer Alison Smith nominating former Country Championship runner Missy Rhythmos in the second.
Gates are set to open at 12pm.
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