What started as a bit of chatter amongst mates looking to back a country race meeting has become a connection set to celebrate 30 years next month.
The 2025 Forbes Cup marks a milestone of support from Bankstown Sports Club this year: a sponsorship that’s seen us through drought, flood and COVID-19 restrictions.
Graeme Ayling, long-time organiser, remembers how it started in Bankstown as a group of golfers settled at the club in post-game to watch the racing on Monday afternoons.
Seeing the country race meetings regularly featured, they decided it would be fun to go to one.
They settled on August as the month that suited most, then looked at the racing calendar.
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Forbes met the criteria: it was within a reasonable travel distance – and no one from the group had ever been here.
From an initial contingent of 12, who were subjected to “atrociously cold” weather conditions in that first year, the numbers have swelled to as many as 180 heading west for the event.
“It was something of a fluke,” Ayling acknowledges, “but around April everyone starts saying, “is Forbes on this year?””
They’ve hosted special guests including Melbourne Cup winning jockeys, race callers and writers, and had some great times with novelty events like golf cart races and pedal-powered sheep shearing.
As a club and as individuals, they’ve continued their sponsorship but also dug deep to support Forbes through drought and through flood.
That’s without taking into account how well they support local hospitality: just from numbers they share amongst themselves, Graeme estimates their annual road trip sinks as much as a quarter of a million into the Forbes economy.
Anticipation is now building for the 30th anniversary trip, with most planning to travel here on Friday, 1 August.
Quite a few go bowling on Saturday, with the highlight of course the immensely popular Calcutta at Club Forbes that night.
On Sunday you’ll see them trackside, with a big program of racing to cheer on.
Bankstown Sports Club continues as major sponsor of the day and the Cup, the event’s feature race and now a Big Dance qualifier.
In more recent years Club Sydney has come on board and will this year sponsor the Ben Hall Bullet feature sprint race.
In all, Cup day boasts a whopping $295,000 in total prize money and it's expected to be another impressive meeting.
The Bankstown Sports Club Forbes Cup carries $50,000 in prize money, and the day's feature sprint is the Club Sydney Ben Hall Bullet.
Other feature races of the day include the $50,000 Super Maiden sponsored by the Walker family, and $40,000 Amazing stakes race supported by Forbes Shire Council.
Forbes Jockey Club is preparing course and track for the big day, with the President's Marquee, Fashions on the Field and more for the crowds.
In Fashions on the Field, there'll be prizes for Most Elegant Lady, Best Dressed Gent, Best Dressed Couple and Best Millinery.
Tickets for both the calcutta and the president's marquee are available online now.
Club Forbes hosts the calcutta from 6pm on Saturday, 2 August, with tickets available online now through 123tix.com.au
In the president's marquee, $120 includes heated undercover seating in a prime, trackside position, music, drinks and canapes all day - book your seat online through ticketebo.com.au
Direct links to tickets on the Forbes Jockey Club facebook page.
Gates will open 11am on the day with all usual facilities on course.
