Fashion & Style
19 November, 2025
Fingers crossed as race day nears
An umbrella might be an essential fashion accessory for people planning a trip to the annual Bong Bong Picnic Races on Friday.
An umbrella might be an essential fashion accessory for people planning a trip to the annual Bong Bong Picnic Races on Friday.
Most forecasters are predicting heavy showers on Thursday followed by light falls throughout the day on Friday.
However, the weather forecast isn’t expected to dampen the enthusiasm of racing enthusiasts and fashionistas preparing one for the biggest day on the region’s racing calendar and one of the highlights on the Southern Highlands’ social calendar.
Gates at the Wyeera Racecourse on Kangaloon Road are scheduled to open 10am for Friday’s six-race program including the coveted Bong Bong Cup.
The official welcome and opening parade will take place at 12 noon and will be followed by the first race at 1.15pm.
The second race will be held at approximately at 1.50pm followed by Race 3 at 3pm, Race 4 at 3.35pm and the Bong Bong Cup at 4.25pm.
The final race on Friday’s program will be held at 5pm with the gates scheduled to close at 6pm.
This year’s Easy Signs-sponsored Fashions on the Field will be held on the main stage at 2pm with thousands of dollars up for grabs in the women’s and men’s categories.
The winner of the women’s category will walk away with a prize pack worth more than $5000.
There will be prizes worth $1400 for second place and a $650 hat prize.
The winner of the men’s category will collect a prize pack worth $2700 with $1150 in prizes for second place.
Those people wanting to enter can sign up at the main pavilion on race day.
There will be a number of food tents operating on the day as well as two licensed bars with EFTPOS facilities.
Racegoers are welcome to take a picnic but alcohol cannot be taken onto the course.
Live music will be provided throughout the day by Angus Murray in the Go Hire Public Marquee.
There will be ATM facilities on-site and bookmakers will be operating for those people for those people wanting to take a flutter.
The meeting is not covered by the TAB.
A new addition to this year’s program will be the Best Jockey Award sponsored by Terra Agriculture.
Every jockey who places first, second or third in a race will earn points and the jockey with the most number of points at the end of the day will walk away with $1000 in cash and the title of 2025 Best Jockey of Bong Bong.
Last year’s Bong Bong Cup was won by South Coast trainer Natalie Jarvis and jockey Maddy Wright riding California August.
Entry to the Bong Bong Picnic Races is restricted strictly to members and guests and encoded wrist bands must be worn to gain entry to the racecourse.
Read More: Bowral, Southern Highlands