Bell Race Day 2025: Thousands expected at 101st race meet

The 101st annual Bell Races will take place on Saturday, kicking off a big year of racing across the Western Downs. Find out what’s in store here.

Racing action at the Bell Race Club in 2024.

The Western Downs’ first race meet of the year kicks off Saturday with the 101st annual Bell Races.

The event will feature a five race program, fashions on the field, the finals of the bachelor and bachelorette competition, food trucks and a foot race.

Bell Racing Club secretary Kirsten Todd said they were excited to be the first race of the year and kick off a busy 2025 for racing fans.

“It feels great, we are very excited,” she said.

“The grounds are looking amazing we’ve had heaps of rain the track is beautiful, soft and green and we are ready for a big one.

“We are hoping for around 2000 guests, last year we had 2400 but it was our centenary year so we are hoping for around that 2000 number.”

Bell Race Club Committee (Contributed Bell Race Club Facebook)

Running for more than a century, Ms Todd said the event had gone from strength to strength and credited the Bell community for their ongoing support.

“I think it’s the strength of the community and the committee as well as the importance the community holds the Bell Races, it is just held in such high regard,” she said.

“It’s social, it brings people together. The Bell Race Day has something for everyone, you can bring your family along, have a drink with friends, have a punt on a racehorse, if you like fashion you can get dressed up and if you like running there’s a foot race, we will have amazing food, there’s just something for everyone.”

Ms Todd said the committee had been hard at work getting ready for their best event yet.

“We have meeting from six months out every months, lots of working bees and lots of discussions and so much work behind the scenes, it’s a massive event to put on, but it is always worth while,” she said.

“We also have so many volunteers from the community outside the committee who come and help on the day and in the lead up.

“The committee is really proud of how far our event has come, our numbers are really growing and it has become a really well known race day.

“I think the reason that people work so hard is because they are proud of the event it has become.”

The event kicks off at 10am January 4 and tickets can be purchased online or at the gate.

Originally published as Bell Race Day 2025: Thousands expected at 101st race meet