It wasn’t only the horses sweating at Coonabarabran’s recent Summer Race Meet, but there were some cool winnings for punters willing to avoid the race favourites.

It wasn’t only the horses sweating at Coonabarabran’s recent Summer Race Meet, but there were some cool winnings for punters willing to avoid the race favourites.

High temperatures had race goers clamouring for the shade, but the 38 degree day didn't put too many people off Coonabarabran’s Summer Race Meet the last Saturday, 18 February.

Most punters were left feeling hot under the collar, however, with only one of the favourites on the sixrace card saluting.

It wasn’t until race five when the Clint Lundholm trained So Extra, ridden by Jake Pracey-Holmes, crossed the line in first place, paying $3.00. Nicka Narcells r a n second, fending off a fastfinishing Inferno Miss. Lundholm took out the last race as well, with In the Road winning the 1100 metre Benchmark 50. In The Road showed some real grit when it found itself in a battle with Minimal at about the 300 mark. But it managed to outlast its rival as Minimal faded late.

The biggest upset of the day came in race three when the Sally Tor rens trained Sligo Queen, paying $51, found the sweet spot in the track out wide thanks to on-board hoop, Andrew Banks. Banks found himself close to last at the 400 metre mark before pushing wide and finishing strongest to win by a length to race favourite Barry The Poet.

Adam Freeman, president of the Coonabarabran Jockey Club, praised ever yone involved in the day.

“It was a perfect day. It was a bit hot, but otherwise it was great,” he said. “Ever yone who came through the gates had a great time - there was a great atmosphere!

“We had more people than we expected too.

“And we had a lot of comments about good the track and all the facilities were. The whole committee did an amazing job. It was a next to perfect day.”

The good news continues for the club, which has been given the green light to install new audio and visual enhancements. Included in that will be a 24/7 security camera system which will cover the entire facility.

But Mr Freeman said he wasn’t stopping there.

“We have some big plans for a couple of other big projects and improvements in the near future,” he said.