Corey Brown attends Manning River Race Club launch

The launch – a relatively low key affair conducted by race club chairman Greg Coleman – was held in conjunction with the club’s strongly attended Harrington Cup meeting.

Brown, who hails from Wingham, started his riding career at the Bushland Drive track when apprenticed to Eric Anderson 26 years ago.

Last week he rode his 1700^th winner including his twin Melbourne Cup successes on Shocking (2009) and Rekindling (2017).

Mr Coleman confirmed at the launch that the club will conduct the Corey Brown Cup on Wingham Cup day in June. Brown earlier told the Times he intends to ride in the race and he's determined to win.

Manning Valley Race Club was formed following the merger of the Taree-Wingham and Krambach clubs.

While this was in place from October last year, it was decided to hold off the launch until yesterday’s meeting so some minor details – including signage at the track, could be finalised.

The club then invited Brown as the special guest following his Melbourne Cup win. Manning Valley will hold 22 meetings a year to be the third biggest club in Country NSW in terms of meetings conducted behind the Clarence River Race Club at Grafton and the Murrumbidgee Jockey Club at Wagga. Both run 24 meetings.

“Corey has never forgotten where he came from,’’ Mr Coleman said during the launch.

“He is a local boy who has recorded some great achievements.’’

Brown’s two trophies for winning the Melbourne Cups were on the lectern during the brief official ceremony, also attended by MidCoast mayor Cr David West and Member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead.

Mr Coleman presented Brown with a DVD of second ever win back in 1992 at Port Macquarie on Watch My Smile. He scored by a short half head in what was said to be an ungainly performance.

“You can now show your kids how you won one of your first races,’’ Mr Coleman smiled.

“It’ll show them how much you can improve,’’ Brown responded.