Horses to rescue Casino Show

IT MIGHT not have all the bells and whistles of the other shows on the Northern Rivers, but next month's Agricultural Hack Day at Casino is better than nothing.

ON WITH THE SHOW: The Casino Show may be cancelled, but horse riders will still be able to test their skills at a planned hack day fundraiser at the Casino Pony Club. . Picture: Jacklyn Wagner

IT MIGHT not have all the bells and whistles of the other shows on the Northern Rivers, but next month’s Agricultural Hack Day at Casino is better than nothing.

In July, the Casino ShowSociety announced it had been forced to cancel the show because of a lack of money and volunteers.

But yesterday the society’s president, Martin Maloney, said they would hold a hack day on October 16 instead.

The event won’t have rides, sideshow alley or entertainment.

But it will have plenty of horse events, and it’s being held at the Casino Pony Club instead of the showground.

That’s because moving the event will cost a lot less.

Instead of the $5000 fee to hold the Hack Day at the showground, it will cost the society just $150 to have it at the pony club.

“This is not going to be a show as such,” Mr Maloney said.

“We’ll have four rings – I think there will be about 195 events and sections, including miniature ponies and horses, stock horses, led horses, Arabs and a lot more.

“It will be a big day.

“We’re having it as a fundraiser – we want to make a splash for next year’s show.”

Mr Maloney said everyone was keen to get the show back on track for 2011.

He said they had about 14 months to raise as muchmoney as possible.

“It was sad that we had to cancel it this year,” he said.

“We could have put on the show – we’re not desperately broke – but we probably wouldn’t have been able to get the high quality entertainment like we had last year.

“We want to make the Casino Show an event for everyone, young and old.

“So we need to have theentertainment to attract the younger ones.

“That’s what costs a lot of money.”

But instead of scrapping the day altogether, the show society’s plan to have the Agricultural Hack Day should keep momentum going.

Mr Maloney said he was looking forward to the event.

“It’s right in the middle of the North Coast show season,” he said.

“A lot of horses will be in the area anyway.”

However, he admitted that the day would not attract as many people as the normal show.

“It’s not really a spectator thing,” he said.

“But by doing this we can raise some money and hopefully next year we can come back with a bang.”

The Casino Show Society has been struggling for the past few years.

Dwindling finances and an ageing volunteer base has made it increasingly difficult for the society, which was established more than 120 years ago.

Mr Maloney said last year’s show cost about $30,000 to run.

But it generated only about $7000 in gate takings.

And it’s not the only show society on the Northern Rivers that has been suffering.

Nimbin’s show, planned for September 25 and 26, was perilously close to being scrapped earlier this year.

The Mullumbimby Showenjoyed a successful return in November last year, after it was cancelled in 2008.

SHOW SEASON

Nimbin: September 25 to 26

Alstonville: October 29-30

Bangalow: November 19-20

Kyogle: October 8-10;

Mullumbimby: November 12-14;

Lismore North Coast National: October 21-24

Bonalbo: May 6-7, 2011

Woodenbong: May 9, 2011.

Originally published as Horses to rescue Casino Show