For the past two years rain has forced officials to call off three separate race days, which has placed financial pressure on the small club.

But with forecasted rain this week evaporating, racing looks set to return to the tiny town which swells to bursting point for what is the town’s biggest social and sporting event.

The feature race of the day – the Uardry Boughshed Cup Carrathool Cup Benchmark 70 Handicap (1400m) – has attracted 14 quality nominations mid-week, with the Trevor Sutherland-trained Ambergris out to improve on her last start second in Canberra in January.

Albury trainer Brett Cavanough potentially has a cup winner in Garvan should he accept his nomination, with the four-year-old gelding looking to continue to improve for his last-start third in Albury in late January.

Phil Sweeney from Jerilderie will be hoping five-year-old gelding Microchip Lad can begin 2012 the same way he started last year where he won four out of his first races, with a third the only blemish.

Carrathool Jockey Club president Mick Armstrong said he was happy with the number and quality of nominations.

“We normally get a fair swag of noms, normally more than what we can accept so we have to weed them out,” Armstrong said.

“But it’s good for a small country meet like this that problem, we normally get horses comin from all over.