THE roar of the crowd, the thunder of hooves and the rapid speech of the race callers will be heard for the first time since January as the Inverell Jockey Club holds their August race meeting in conjunction with Thomas Davis, Brown Accountants.

Jockey Club member Leonie Moffitt said the day’s racing would hold a lot of surprises.

“A lot of the horses are just starting to gear up for the season and it will be hard to call what will happen, which will add to the excitement on the day.

“We have a lot of new horses coming in, a lot of youngsters and a lot of horses are having their first start after a spell so we just don’t know where they are up to.”

There are a number of local trainers amongst the 51 acceptances for the five race program, and local racing enthusiast Brian Baldwin thinks many locally trained horses are in with good chances.

“The premier race of the day is the Thomas Davis, Brown and Co Centenary Rating 72 Handicap over 1010m and Inverell trained galloper Sven could be a favourite coming off a recent second placing in the Mungindi Cup, he has been freshened up for a shorter course and set for this race.

“John Berger’s horse Full Shadow is a winner over this distance on the Inverell track and will be one to watch after his recent second at Mungindi after a good spell.”

“Garah district horse Disaster Den will probably be the early leader in this race coming off a very easy win in easier company at Mungindi.

“Top weight Loup Rouge is a class runner but has been struggling to find form of late.

“He will be ridden by apprentice jockey Lee Menser and while Ms Menser rides him in his track work I think her lack of race experience could let him down.”

Inverell trainer of Sven, Cliff Beaton said he was not sure if his horse would be ready to win on Saturday.