FAQs
KEY CONDITIONS OF ENTRY TO THE LOUTH RACE CLUB RESERVE
The Louth Turf Club Inc. wishes you a safe and enjoyable weekend. Please behave respectfully; antisocial and / or unruly behaviour will not be tolerated.
_ NO fireworks;
_ NO dogs;
_ NO prohibited drugs;
_ NO excessive noise after midnight;
_ Use rubbish bins provded;
_ Speed limit 5km p/h;
_ All NSW traffic laws apply;
_ Persons enter and remain at own risk to selves and property;
_ Those in breach of a condition or law may be removed and may be charged by police with relevant offences;
By authority Louth Turf Club Inc. Lessee of the public reserve
ENTRY FEES / ID BANDS / RACE BOOKS
Gates open ~10am. Entry Tickets ($25) are available on the gate. Online tickets available from 123Tix closer to the date. Race books ($5) are available to purchase after dark on Friday night from the Calcutta Committee at Shindy’s Inn and on race day at the gate and Secretaries Office. ID is required at the gate to get an 18+ wristband.
RACE TIMES
First race is generally around 1pm however we won’t know until closer to the date. You can keep an eye on the nominations and acceptances on the Racing NSW Website.
CAMPING
There are two spots to set up camp at the racetrack. Either the inside camp ground or the one across the road. Totally up to you, it’s first in best dressed and we don’t hold spots. The Mud Map shows where all the amenities are located. We don’t charge for camping on Friday or Saturday nights, however if you have arrived earlier in the week, we will collect a nominal fee of $10 pp/per night to help cover things like hot water. Porta loo’s are also scattered around the campgrounds. Committee members will be coming around during the week and wristbands will be issued upon payment. It’s a VERY good idea to bring firewood with you to combat the cold nights. We mention this specifically down further in the FAQ’s as well so that you don’t arrive unprepared. Yes ladies, there are power points in the female shower area for your hair dryers.
CONTROLLED DRINKING AREA
At Louth Races, we have a 'Controlled Drinking Area'. This is the zone inside the BIG chain mesh fence where you will find the bar shed, saddling enclosure, secretaries office, bookies ring, merchandise tent, food outlets, viewing hill, marquees etc. In this area you may only drink alcohol bought from the bar (or what is supplied in your tent).
The camping grounds are BYO however you can't take your BYO inside the BIG fence and you can't take purchased alcohol back out.
Have no fear, esky's in the car park are all good, just remember to keep them under lock and key when not near your vehicles. You may bring an esky with food and unopened soft drinks into the controlled area, although they will be checked by security.
ROADS TO LOUTH
Just a reminder that all roads to Louth are UNSEALED!!! They will be ok for 2WD cars but everyone needs to exercise caution. Both Bourke and Cobar Shire Council try and get their main roads to Louth graded in the lead up, which is fantastic.
You must DRIVE TO CONDITIONS and be careful on these roads with so much traffic, wildlife, dust etc. Turn your lights on, don't sit close behind another car in their dust, pull right off to the side if you need to stop etc etc. Please just be patient and show some common sense on our outback roads!
In the event of LOCAL RAIN, the shires may temporarily close roads to let them dry out. Please keep yourself informed with the road reports:
Bourke Shire Council - Road Report
Cobar Shire Council - Road Report
OBEY THE LAW, DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE
This obviously goes without saying. There is always a strong police presence in Louth and the greater district including many mobile RBT’s and the Booze Bus sets up in the village. The Louth Races is a fun week / weekend and we definitely don’t want to see anyone go DUI or partake in reckless behaviour that puts others at risk. Obey the law.
We suggest that once you set up camp, you then walk the short distances between the camp ground / pub / race track to avoid any potential incidents. Shindy’s Inn will also be running a mini bus between the pub and the track on Friday and Saturday.
AMENITIES
Please refer to the mud map above for locations. There are ample toilet facilities at the track and a limited number of showers in the north end toilet blocks. A disabled W/C is located in the Secretaries Office, and another in the ablution block inside the controlled area near the main entry gate. Both clearly marked. Porta loos will be scattered around the camp grounds for your convenience from Friday.
Extra toilets and showers are located in the park across the road from the pub for those camping in the village.
ATMs
There will be an ATM available on race day at the Secretaries Office, however we strongly suggest you plan ahead and not rely solely on that as your only source of funds. It’s ALWAYS slow and temperamental. Save yourself the hassle and bring cash.
FIREWOOD
Each year the committee provides a small amount of firewood to the campground for FREE. With groups arriving so early in the week, it's a stretch to assume there will be lots left come Saturday, even though we do our best to stagger the "deliveries" during the week so everyone can benefit.
We would suggest if you find yourself with a bit of free space in a tray, it would be worth your while to also bring some wood. We don't need to remind the seasoned racegoers that it can be freezing at night.
BUSES
As a club we don't have the resources to provide transport other than free Louth Airstrip transfers to the track on race day. Shindy’s Inn run a mini bus between the pub and the track on Friday and Saturday. However if there are any buses coming from further afield who are looking for a few more paying guests, please feel free to contact us and we can share your details.
We see on socials that some busses from Bourke / Cobar are being advertised. NOTE that these are not organised by the Louth Turf Club so please make your own enquiries. Bookings would be essential.
Bourke: Lowe’s Bus Service 0427701570
Cobar: Spence’s Coaches 0429665227
MOBILE RECEPTION
Louth has Telstra mobile coverage however just assume that with so many people there will be a real battle to get any data for you socials / web browsing. Phone calls “should” be ok.
DOGS
As per the Conditions of entry, we stress that no dogs allowed in the controlled area. This is a long standing policy of the Louth Turf Club. We cannot jeopardise the safety of the horses, jockeys and crowd. Be it a Great Dane or a Chihuahua, the same applies.
Louth Races is no place for a dog, so please do not bring them. For those who happen to be on longer trips and traveling with dogs, they must stay secure at your camp.
*** Seeing Eye Dogs and Police Dogs are of course an exception.
PRIVATE TENTS
The club has a limited number of Private Tents available to hire for Race Day. These have proven very popular as a base for groups, with longstanding bookings rolling over each year. It is not often that one becomes available, however if they do, we will advertise on social media. For those with a current booking looking to make contact, please email: tentslouthraces@gmail.com
- 3x3 Marquee with 3 sides
- $250 flat fee (if you have more than 15 people you need x2 tents)
- Comes with a table, and you can then arrange the number of chairs you need
- Pre booked alchoholic drinks package delivered to your tent
- Self cater food / softies OR catering can be arranged if organised prior
WHAT IS THE CALCUTTA ON FRIDAY NIGHT?
For the uninitiated, here's how it all works.......
PART 1: THE TICKET DRAW
From late FRIDAY afternoon calcutta tickets ($5) are sold at the front of the pub. Race books generally arrive after dark and will be for sale when available ($5).
Ticket sales cease at 7pm and the draw will commence soon after. 10% of the ticket sales go to the RFDS and the balance of the money starts the prize pool.
If your ticket is drawn, you are listed on the big board as the “drawer” of that particular horse ahead of the auction.
PART 2: THE AUCTION
Immediately following the draw, an auctioneer will sell each horse, with the favourite being sold last. For every horse bought at the auction, 50% of the sale price of the horse goes to the "drawer" and the remaining 50% goes into the prize pool, which is continually tallied up on the board for everyone to see.
*** Winning bidders MUST pay for their horse on the night and we only accept CASH. At the conclusion of the auction, drawers and buyers must present immediately with photo ID to settle up. This applies to EVERYONE.
PART 3: THE RACE
On Saturday at the Louth Races, following the running of the race the calcutta was based on, the prize pool is paid out as follows:
70% to the buyer(s) of the winning horse;
20% to the buyer(s) of the second place getter;
10% to the buyer(s) of the third place getter;
Prize money can be collected from the designated Calcutta Committee Member at the Secretaries Office following correct weight being called. The same ID shown on Friday night when settling up must be presented to collect winnings.