Susanna Freymark
There’s been a buzz of activity at the Casino Showground and Racecourse finishing the upgrade – the big reveal is this Saturday, April 20 at the official opening.
The photos here show the extent of the upgrade with an undercover area and horse stalls making the equestrian centre one that will attract riders and visitors to Casino.
Everyone is welcome to come to the official opening and have a peek from 10am.
Little Ranch has organised some exciting events including a Casino Pony Club musical ride at 5pm and a jackpot barrel race at 5.15pm– both these events are exciting to watch. There will be live music by Bodhi Acton afterwards.
The official part of the opening is at 10am on the Saturday. At 10.30am there is show jumping in the arena.
Casino Campdraft and Rodeo Association will be holding two events throughout the day and the Little Ranch Riding Club is hosting events across Friday, April 19–Sunday, April 21.
On Saturday there will be a free sausage sizzle between 10am and noon.
Richmond Valley Council has been working on the upgrade since 2018. The project received a major funding boost from state and federal governments in 2020 when $12.8million was provided through the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund.
There was more funding from the Showground Stimulus Program, Drought Communities Funding, Crown Lands and Council bringing the total to $14.4million economy.
The upgrade project includes:
• a 40m x 80m undercover multipurpose arena
• an outdoor turf equestrian warm-up/pony club area
• 40m x 40m outdoor sand warm-up area
• 60 undercover event day horse stalls
• 80 racehorse training stables
• centre arena improvements including surface, lighting and stockyard improvements
• race track and sand training track upgrades and a 50m equine exercise pool
• amenities, truck and float accesses and carparking
• power upgrades including overnight camping
• fire safety improvements
• internal road, landscaping and signage upgrades.
Come along this weekend and see the changes at the showground and enjoy the barbie.
and then