HUGE WIN: First races in 18 years rakes profit in

And the Telegraph can reveal what the cashed up organisers plan to spend the money on

MASSIVE SUCCESS: After years going without, the Banana Races have produced a big profit margin ahead of the 2020 race day.

THE return of the Banana Races in 2019 pulled in a massive profit and has set the scene for an even bigger race day in 2020.

Crowd number expectations were smashed and the Central Telegraph can reveal that the Banana Races turned a profit of about $45,000 this year.

The organisers are very pleased.

Banana Sports Committee secretary Deborah McCann said it came after the $25,000-$30,000 cost of this year’s first Banana Races in over 18 years.

Now cashed up, McCann said the Banana Sports Committee was allocating those profits to upgrading the Banana Sports and Recreation Grounds for the 2020 race day.

“The toilets and showers will be up and running next year thanks to funding earlier in the year from the Gambling Community Benefit Fund,” McCann said.

“From our $45,000 profit margin we can extend the bar area as well as provide more shade cover for our patrons.

“Additionally in 2020 we hope to bring more entertainment options for the adults and kids including the possibility of another well known band.”

McCann said the committee was blown away with the 1200 patrons that rolled through the gates on November 2 and the sponsors lining up for 2020.

“I don’t think we’ll have any problem getting enough sponsorship next year and the more we get the more we can provide for the public,” McCann said.

“We might even be able to increase the prize money with more sponsorship.”

McCann said it was likely there’ll be more horses competing in a time trial event as well as the possibility of more food vans and stalls.

The ongoing drought conditions may play a factor in the scale of the 2020 race day, McCann acknowledged.

“No doubt the continuing drought will influence a lot of decisions we make towards it,” McCann said.

“If the drought is still the same this time next year things will be devastating for a lot of people but we imagine sponsorship will play a big factor in covering that loss.”

The Banana Sports Committee will meet early next year to begin planning for the 2020 race day.

It will be held on October 31 from 1pm at the Banana Sports and Recreation Grounds.

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