Today marks four weeks until the 2025 Lismore Workers Lismore Cup raceday takes place at the Lismore Turf Club in North Lismore. So, get your glad rags ready, Lismore, book your package and mark your calendar.

The sun is shining, and that is exactly what Secretary Manager Scott Jones and Operations Manager Daniel Kedraika are wishing for in 28 days.

Lismore and the Northern Rivers' wet weather since March has meant that there have been no race meetings since February. However, conditions at the moment would see the Lismore Cup run and won if the rain stays away in the week leading up to the Cup.

"It's amazing what a couple of weeks straight of sun will do," Daniel told the Lismore App. "We're going, very good. We'd race today if we had to, and I just hope we can keep the sun."

The Lismore Cup has had a chequered history over the last six years.

About five thousand people enjoyed sunny and successful racedays in 2018 and 2019 before COVID hit in 2020, with a limited crowd allowed entry. 2021 was cancelled due to COVID restrictions, while 2022 was the year of the big mud, when a storm swept through after two races, which put a stop to racing for the rest of the day, including the Lismore Cup. This was run in Grafton later.

The Lismore Cup in 2023 was run on a Thursday still, with no gazetted half-day public holiday, so crowds were down. The Lismore Cup was moved to a Friday for the first time in 2024, but the rains came down and the raceday was cancelled.

Roll on the Lismore Cup in 2025.

Warm sunny weather has seen the grass grow and dry to where the course is looking in good condition. A new rail from Racing NSW is being installed, and preparations are underway for what will hopefully be another five thousand-strong crowd enjoying a day at the races.

As it coincides with the 2025 Masters Games this year, where each participant receives a ticket to Lismore's premier raceday, the turnout should meet all expectations.

"We're all set up and ready to go. We've got the VIP Marquee, Trackside Tables, and we'll have a luncheon upstairs. Everything is selling quickly. We're probably at two-thirds sold for the Trackside Tables, I'd say just a bit less than half for the VIP Marquee and we're just about sold out upstairs.

For those who are worried about another washout. All tickets are fully refundable.

"Absolutely, worst case scenario, we wash out, then everyone will get a full refund," Daniel confirmed.

You can check out the package options by clicking here.

There is also the Fashion on the Fields event. Heats will take place at 1:10pm, following Race 2, with the finals to follow Race 3 at 1:50pm.

The categories to be judged are:

Best Dressed Man

Best Dressed Couple

Best Dressed Lady (-40)

Best Dressed Woman (+40)

General admission to the 2025 Lismore Workers Lismore Cup is $20 for early bird tickets booked online, $25 on the day. For those wanting to attend the After The Last party with the Billy Gudgeon Band, the entry fee is $10, with entry after 4 pm.

Viva Racing Calcutta Golf Day

The golf day is held on Thursday, 26 September, the day before the Lismore Cup.

"The golf day was a big success last year. We got that through before the rain started to drop, which was great. It was sold out. From memory, I think they might have had a cancellation the morning off, but because they sold out, we had some reserve teams standing by. We're probably two-thirds of the way through, selling it out this year as well," Daniel explained.

(A camera records all shots on the $200,000 second hole at the Lismore Golf Course)

The $200,000 hole-in-one competition is on again. There were certainly plenty of nerves from seasoned golfers trying to win the cash on the second hole at the Lismore Golf Course.

The bonus this year is that there are more prizes for nearest the pin throughout the day.

"This year, there'll be a prize for nearest the pin on that hole, about $1,000 worth of TAB vouchers or something along those lines. And then on all the par threes, there'll be promotional giveaways for nearest the pins and stuff from the golf club. They're really getting behind it this year, which is really good.

The golf day is a 4-person Ambrose with a 12pm shotgun start. The cost is $600 per group of four.

When the golf is finished and the presentations have been handed out, the Calcutta begins.

A Calcutta is when people buy raffle tickets for the Lismore Cup. A raffle ticket is drawn for each horse running in the cup. Those lucky people are then the 'owner' of the horse at that point. An auction is then held, with anybody present able to bid on any horse at the auction. The highest bidder buys the horse, with the raffle ticket owner usually receiving half of the money. The rest goes into a growing pool of money.

When it is know who has run 1st, 2nd and 3rd, the pool is divided between the 3 owners. Daniel said last year's winner received around $12,500.

Anyone can be part of the Calcutta, head to the Lismore Golf Club in East Lismore around 5pm.

Scott and Daniel get a test run in two weeks when they hold a Rousillon Race Day on Thursday, September 11, weather permitting.

It would be nice to see a full house at the Lismore Turf Club on Friday, September 26. Lismore loves a social event, and the 2025 Lismore Workers Lismore Cup deserves a change of fortune.