The beloved Junction races is set for another packed cup meet

The Junction Race Club is preparing for up to 1200 racegoers to attend one of Western Australia’s oldest bush race meetings this weekend.

Saturday’s $30,000 Junction Cup (1900m) highlights the iconic race meeting and gymkhana which connects the Gascoyne Junction community for a weekend of horse racing and entertainment.

Junction Race Club Secretary Nadine Collins said the sold-out community event would attract people from across the State to the small Gascoyne town of Gascoyne Junction, about 170km east of Carnarvon.

“The races are one of the rare social occasions that bring our remote region together, where people travel from far and wide to reconnect and enjoy the camaraderie of friends,” she said.

“The Junction Race Club is a special club and from the committee members to volunteers to the racegoers, there never seems to be a lack of people who want to help and be involved.”

Junction Race Club, an entirely volunteer-based club, has been hosting the annual race meeting dating back to 1907.

The race meeting is a unique country experience, with the racetrack located on pastoral lease Jimba Jimba Station.

Ainsley Hardie, from the Shire of Upper Gascoyne, praised the positive ripple effect that racing, particularly the Junction Cup, had on the region.

“The impact of the Junction Cup is felt through the whole region, with visitors coming to make the most of our town while they’re here enjoying the races,” she said.

“The Junction Cup is a highlight of our year – it’s known far and wide and tickets always sell out.

“The races are a really fantastic opportunity for the community to come together and for visitors to get to experience Junction.”

The Gascoyne contributes $13.9 million of the total $1.3 billion that the racing industry generates for the WA economy annually.