Racing: Turf club ready to race

The Bunbury Turf Club's big three races will begin on the first Sunday of March next year after the club released the race dates for 2015-16.

The region's biggest race, the XXXX Gold Bunbury Cup, will be held on Thursday, March 17, with the AHA Cup on the 6th and Bunbury Stakes on the 13th, leading up to the race.

On Sunday, October 18, horses, jockeys and trainers will return to the track for the first meet of the season, with the Melbourne Cup day to go ahead on Tuesday, November 3.

This season there will also be race days on New Years Day and Australia Day, before the season finishes in April, with the final meet on Wednesday the 27th.

Bunbury Turf Club general manager Paul Rossiter said the New Years race day would be one of the highlights on the calendar.

"We are expecting a huge crowd of holiday-makers on the course," he said.

Rossiter confirmed XXXX Gold would continue on as the sponsor of the Bunbury Cup.

"It will continue a good, long partnership," he said.

"We also look forward to the $120,000 APH Contractors Bunbury Stakes."

Rossiter said the track would be ready for the first race, having been renovated in the off-season.

"The curators cut it back and it is regrown," he said.