After the meeting was washed out in 2025, a record breaking crowd from around Australia was at Louth in western NSW on Saturday to see “Macleay” win the 2,000 metres Nutrien Walsh Hughes-Louth Cup.

“Toulon Factor” led the nine-horse Cup field from “Star Intrigue” with the Jane Clement, Mendooran-trained nine-year-old gelding Macleay, well ridden by Billy Cray, settling midfield.

Star Intrigue ($8) trained and ridden by dual licence holder Wendy Peel, after having a good run hit the front approaching the home turn before Macleay ($4.80) took control and raced away to win by seven lengths with “The Bentley” (Mikayla Weir) making up ground for third.

A flood of money saw The Bentley firm to $3 favourite and was probably the most heavily backed horse all day while some of the 21 bookmakers fielding on course at Louth reported very good support for Macleay.

Leading country jockeys Jake Pracey-Holmes and Mikayla Weir rode winning doubles, as did apprentice Hollie Hull at the non-TAB meeting, while Dubbo trainer Connie Greig led in a winning treble.

Garry Bignell, a former long time trainer in western NSW who is now based at Charleville in Queensland, landed a winning double with “Won For Vicki” and “Kijivu”.

Won For Vicki (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $2 favourite) led throughout to win the 1000 metres Bourke Steel & Hire Class 1 Handicap by over two lengths, while Kijivu (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $2.40) led for home and lasted to beat another Queensland horse, “Sheriff’s Star” (Zoe Hunt, $3) by a half head, with “Artspace” (Liam Blanch, $2 favourite) finishing well for third in the 1400 metres Shindy’s Inn Class 2 Handicap.

First of the Connie Greig-trained treble was the appropriately named “Daisy Duck” (from the mare “Quackquack”) with Hollie Hull in the saddle and starting at $3.20, who led throughout in the Port Of Bourke Hotel Maiden Plate.

The nine-year-old mare “Blackhill Kitty” has been a stable stalwart for Connie Greig and advanced the record to 12 wins and 25 placings from 85 starts when winning at Louth.

Nicely positioned and travelling fifth by Mikayla Weir in the 1200 metres Arrowfield Stud Benchmark 50 Handicap, Blackhill Kitty ($5.50), won by a length from “Cool Space” (Liam Blanch, $5) which flashed home from a long last to get second by a short head from “Dreyfus” (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $8)..

Mikayla Weir then gave the Connie Greig-trained “Hot Miss” ($1.50 to $1.60 favourite) a cosy run behind the leading pair “Encampment” (Jess Del Frari, $2.30) and “Sunset Drive” (Leanne Boyd, $3), when winning the 1400 metres Rices Back O Bourke Cordials Splashe Cola Maiden Handicap.

Wrapping up an extremely well organised meeting boasting great facilities at a small village in a remote location, the Kylie Kennedy, Narromine-trained last start Gilgandra TAB winner “Himeros” backed up a week later at Louth.

Starting the $3 favourite with Hollie Hull the rider, Himeros, owned by Warwick Harper, tracked the leader “The Terminator” then cleared out to win by nearly six lengths from Queensland galloper “Edwards” (Zoe Hunt, $7) and “Minister Garrett” ( Billy Cray, $5) in the 1700 metres Sullivans Mining & Industrial-Great Western Hotel Cobar Benchmark 50 Handicap.