Life Members Day at Murray Bridge

The Murray Bridge Racing Club will honour the individuals who have shaped the Club over the last century with the inaugural Life Members Raceday at Thomas Farms Racecourse Murray Bridge on Saturday, 17th of January 2026.

Eight of the 10 metropolitan-class races on Saturday’s program are sponsored by a life member or the family of a late-life member of the Club, recognising the enormous contribution each has made to the local racing industry.

The Murray Bridge Racing Club was founded in 1899, and racing has been conducted at three different tracks – Hartmann’s Paddock in Monarto, the ‘old course’ on Maurice Road in Murray Bridge and Thomas Farms Racecourse, Murray Bridge at Gifford Hill.

Since moving to the ‘new track’ at Gifford Hill, the Murray Bridge Racing Club has continued to cement itself as one of the state’s premier racing and training venues.

The eight races on Saturday are:
– Bryan Guy Memorial 2YO Plate
– Reg Nolan Life Member Maiden Plate
– John ‘Budgie’ Buhagiar Life Member Handicap
– Chairman’s Choice Handicap
– Kym Thomas Life Member Handicap
– Garry March Life Member Handicap
– Beverley and Trevor Curtis Life Members Handicap
– Lloyd Cromwell Memorial Handicap

Murray Bridge Racing Club Chairman John Leahy is one of the Life Members sponsoring a race and revealed the Chairman’s Choice Handicap will carry a special prize for the winning connections.

“Life Members Raceday is a terrific opportunity for the Murray Bridge Racing Club to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions that have helped build the Club into what it is today,” Leahy said.

“Thanks to our partnership with Langhorne Creek-based winery Bleasdale, we will present a ‘Chairman’s Choice’ prize to the winning connections of one of the races.

“This will include an exclusive mixed half-dozen pack of Bleasdale’s new Travis Head range of wines, which has been released in conjunction with South Australia’s homegrown Ashes hero.

“The track raced beautifully last Saturday after a period of extreme weather, and I’ve got no doubt our track team will again present a perfect surface for racing.

“The forecast for Saturday looks ideal, so I’d encourage locals and visitors alike to head trackside for a brilliant day of summer racing.”