Albury Racing Club is expecting ticket sales "to go nuts" in the lead-up to the Gold Cup meeting on Friday.
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Club chief executive Steve Hetherton confirmed there were 3800 general admission tickets still on offer and a further 30 spots available in marquees, with the crowd currently capped at 9800 due to the existing NSW government rules in place for COVID-19.
But the figure could grow to 10,000 in coming days with some further easing of restrictions given the ongoing low case numbers in the state.
The Gold Cup meeting has been dogged by misfortune the past two years, with the 2019 meeting abandoned due to torrential rain on the day of the races and COVID hitting in the days leading up to last year's races.
Mr Hetherton had a word of warning for people thinking they did not have to pre-book a ticket.
"If you want to take the risk of rocking up to the gate and it is sold out you just won't get in," he said.
"There is nothing we can do, but we will keep selling to the very last ticket is gone.
"We're expecting sales to go nuts in the next few days."
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The Gold Cup meeting has traditionally attracted a crowd of around 12,000 people, with the half-day holiday still in existence.
The two-day carnival starts on Thursday.
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a top temperature of 27 degrees for cup day and a 30 per cent chance of a shower.
"If there is going to be rain it is only going to be a small amount," Mr Hetherton said.
"We were six days out last year and it got called off from a crowd perspective.
"There would have to be something drastically go wrong with (case) numbers for us to not have a crowd."
The Gold Cup build-up will intensify from Monday when cup nominations are released mid-morning.
Some of the nation's biggest racing stables are expected to be among the nominations.
"I know there are leading trainers bringing horses because I've spoken to them," Mr Hetherton said.
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