The largest crowd for many years was on hand to see former local boy Damien Lane train the first three winners at this year’s Coonamble Gold Cup meeting.
Now based in Wyong, Damo returned to his home track with seven runners and was rewarded with the three winners as well as close second in the feature race.
The winner of the Geronimo Farm Equipment and New Holland Coonamble Gold Cup over 1600 metres was Red Knot, a six year old bay gelding trained by Rodney Northam, Scone, and owned by Paul Frampton and Reg Inglis.
The day also marked the retirement of one of Coonamble’s favorite sons, Ray ‘Icy’ Canham who after more than 30 years as the official starter at central and western area tracks, open the gates for the last race of the day, ‘Icy’ Canham Appreciation Class 3 Handicap.
After the race, the jockeys and stewards gathered to present ‘Icy’ with a framed photo of him atop of the Coonamble barriers along with their signatures.
In the fashions on the field, Angie and Chyna Pennell, both of Tamworth, were once again named the best dress women and Miss Junior Gold Cup.
Jontti Arnold, Longreach, was the judges pick for the best dressed woman under 35.