THE opening month of the new season in AUGUST has plenty to offer for those who like to Getaway and Go Racing or simply watch the action from afar. Highlights range from ‘the race that stops the Top End’ – the Darwin Cup – to the late winter warm-ups for the Spring Carnivals in Sydney and Melbourne.

Apart from Darwin, if you are looking for something different there is always the popular Coffs Harbour Cup, the Cairns Cup, the Broome Cup and the Exhibition Wednesday meeting at Eagle Farm but be prepared to wade your way through thousands of young revelers if you chose the latter.

136^th KENTUCKY DERBY RUN AT LOUISVILLE ON MAY 1, 2010:

IT is known by the population at large as ‘the most exciting two minutes in sports’ but to horse racing fans throughout America the Kentucky Derby is more commonly described as ‘The Run for the Roses.’

The 136^th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 1, 2010, will again be the first leg of the United States Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing and is followed by the Preakness Stakes then the Belmont Stakes.

LADIES DAY: Wednesday AUGUST 11. CUP DAY: Saturday AUGUST 14, 2010

THE extremely adventurous among those followers of GETAWAY AND GO RACING combine a TOP END TOUR that takes in the DARWIN and BROOME CUPS in early August.

It is an arduous ask with Broome almost 1900km from Darwin but there is some spectacular scenery in between and those prepared to undertake the long drive or coach trip won’t be disappointed.

COFFS HARBOUR CUP CARNIVAL – Thursday, August 5, 2010

ON the first Thursday in August each year the central coast of New South Wales attracts thousands of visitors for the Coffs Harbour Gold Cup.

Regarded as the ‘biggest party on the Coffs Coast,’ Cup day is supported by a half-day public holiday and over 10,000 pack the track to enjoy the fashion, fun and racing.

GRAND ANNUAL CARNIVAL – May 4, 5 &6, 2010

ALL roads lead to Warrnambool for the Grand Annual Carnival in early May which is regarded as the ‘jewel in the crown’ of country racing in Victoria and wears the proud banner: ‘Where Heroes Are Created.’

This annual three-day event, one of Australia’s premier regional racing carnivals, attracts close to 40,000 race-goers from all parts of the country and overseas. In 2010 it will be held from Tuesday to Thursday, May 3, 4 & 5.

Darwin Cup Day – Monday, August 2 - 2010

THOUSANDS of visitors flock to the Northern Territory each August for the ‘Race that Stops the Top End’ – the annual Darwin Cup.

The Cup carnival, hosted at the picturesque Fannie Bay course, extends over a five-week period and takes in eight feature days of racing when close to $2 million in stakes are distributed.