While entry numbers reached record levels at the Deepwater Jockey Club’s 150th race meet last year, the club plans on continuing the momentum into its 151st year when the races kick off this weekend.

Club Secretary, Tricia Stack, said 4000 visitors attended the Deepwater Races last year to help celebrate its sesquicentenary of races and they expect numbers to be around the 3000 this year.

“I think we will hit the 3000 mark this year,” Mrs Stack said.

“There has been a lot of interest this year and we have buses coming from Armidale, Grafton, Tenterfield as well as from further afield.”

Mrs Stack said the Deepwater Races had a great country atmosphere that visitors just loved and that was what kept them coming back year after year.

“We always have a band after the last race and visitors could be dancing in the dust or dancing in the mud up here but it never seems to bother anyone,” Mrs Stack said.

“It has been washed out over a dozen times, so people can expect all types of weather.

“One year it was so hot the fire brigade was there to cool horses and people off.”

There are six races in total at the Deepwater Races and more than $40,000 in total prize money and $11,000 for the feature race, The Deepwater Cup.

“There is no TAB at the races just bookies and people just pay at the tree,” Mrs Stack said.

“The town’s population swelled from around 300 to 4000 on race day in 2017 but we never had one incident and everyone had a great time.”

For those who like to have a bet, up to 12 bookies turn up at the Deepwater meet every year.

And as the current title holder of the NSW Community Race Club of the Year title, visitors to the 2018 Deepwater Races can expect a race meeting like no other.