The call of "They're off and racing" will echo around Grenfell this June long weekend as the ever popular Guinea Pig races make their return to the Henry Lawson Festival in 2019. The Grenfell Country Club will be hosting the event on Sunday, June 9, with the club offering a barbecue, full bar facilities, live music and kids entertainment - everything you need for a fabulous day out.
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The infamous Pinnacle Guinea Pig races are a classic part of the festival weekend and are a wonderful family event that everyone can enjoy. Previously held just out of town at the 'Milroy' property at Pinnacle, the races attract visitors, and guinea pigs, from far and wide. The tiny thoroughbreds are able to compete in two categories of racing, sprints and hurdles, both of which are contested over a ten metre track.
We are thrilled to have the Guinea Pig Races back in our festival program, it is a much-loved family event which brings so much colour and laughter to the weekend.
- Alan Griffiths, Henry Lawson Festival President
Some owners have been training their guinea pigs for months in preparation for the event, while others are relying on natural speed and ability as they race for the ultimate prize - the invaluable honour of being proclaimed the fastest guinea pig in the Central West.
Henry Lawson Festival President, Alan Griffiths, said the return of the Guinea Pig Races added that something extra to the long weekend and was welcomed by all. "We are thrilled to have the Guinea Pig Races back in our festival program", he said. "It is a much-loved family event which brings so much colour and laughter to the weekend".
The perennially popular, Madeleine Griffiths and Danny Joyce will be reprising their broadcasting roles, providing insightful, and often hilarious, commentary to the racing scene. Locals and visitors have been able to register their finest guinea pigs in recent weeks but entries will be accepted on the day. While there is no entry fees, spectators are asked to make a gold coin donation to the Grenfell Hospital Auxillary in lieu of the entry fees.
Organisers of the Guinea Pig Races and Country Club staff said they were looking forward to the fun and frivolities of the races come Sunday.