The iconic Macquarie Picnic Races with its strong, six race program, has been a firm favourite on the racing calendar since the 1880s. 

With a December and July meet, you can take your pick or head to both. Trangie is located 45 minutes from Dubbo and a six hour drive from Sydney. Flights are also available to Dubbo daily. 

Tickets start from $15 for adults and kids are free. The Stables Marquee on site will have you gasping in admiration with a decor and atmosphere rivalling Randwick. Tickets are priced around $150 and include food and beverages. For the warmer days, you’ll also be treated to refreshing misting machines to keep excitement high but temperatures cool.  

If racing isn’t your thing, but good times with good people is, you’ve come to the right place. The dash for cash sees punters run barefoot up the home run, a live band continues long after the last race has run, and there’s stunning prizes for fashions on the field. 

Recent years have provided some challenges for the Trangie Race Club, from the worst drought in living memory, to a pandemic and crippling mouse plague. In December 2022 the annual races had to be postponed to July due to damage caused by flooding. It was a far cry from the daily dust storms experienced in 2019 but has further galvanised the committee to keep spirits up and welcome a big crowd for their next meeting in July. 

Accommodations in Trangie are limited, so be sure to book your spot early. There’s also camping on site and more options in nearby Narromine. For gray nomads heading to central Australia, Trangie is the perfect stop over en route to Bourke, Broken Hill and beyond.

Once you’ve booked your spot, there’s a few things to remember:

• As a strictly no BYO event, it is a good idea to visit the ATM beforehand.
• There’s no specific members dress code, racegoers can wear anything from casual attire to full racing attire that wouldn’t look out of place in the Flemington Birdcage. 
• If you attend the December meeting, it will be hot so be sure to pack hats and sunscreen and drink plenty of water.