The benefits of the recent extensions to the facilities at Mudgee Race Club could not have been any more evident than they were at Saturday’s rain affected non-TAB meeting.

Rain started to fall just after noon and by the time the first race was run the track was declared slow and was then downgraded to heavy after the first race.

Club President Max Walker said the extensions showed their value when the rain began to fall.

“Patrons vacated the lawns and packed into the clubhouse,” Walker said.

“It was shoulder to shoulder inside while the rain tumbled down outside, but everyone was comfortable as the recently installed air conditioning worked to perfection.

“The only time patrons ventured outside as the rain fell was during the running of a race.

“Then after the fourth race, the skies cleared, the sun came out and many patrons enjoyed the open air on our lawns.

“We had a very big crowd on track and I believe that was largely because we now have such a great under cover facility.

“On the day fields were small, but racing was very keen and the on course TAB was kept busy and finished with a very strong hold for the day.”

The day was diapppointing for local trainers who failed to lead in a winner, something that has become a rarity in recent years.

Racing opened with Hawkesbury trainer Anita Rossiter leading betting ring drifter Rage And Rave into the winners stall.

Rage and Rave defeated the odds on favourite Sunset Tan by 3/4 length.

In the second race leading country jockey Greg Ryan took the mount on Desert Romance and shared the lead to the home turn before he powered away to defeat May Expire by seven lengths for Wellington trainer Myron Cooper.

The third race was reduced to just three runners after scratchings and resulted in a win for Orange trainer Peter Stanley with Rough Shot.

Stanley said an orphan wallaby led to him purchasing Rough Shot.