A polo field will be built in the centre of the Deepwater racecourse and will be the home of the newly-founded local club. 

The project will be funded by the state government’s Back to the Track program which is aimed at building and strengthening the community and their connection with the racing industry. 

Patrick Herde from the new club said it was a huge boost to get their club up and running and bring the sport to the area. 

“It means the world to us,” he said.

“There’s no way in the world this polo club could get started and the ground couldn’t happen without this $20,000.”

Herde said working bees had already started to clean up the area that will become the polo pitch but the big works to turn it from a weedy grass patch to a good green pitch would begin soon.

“We’ll get some cattle manure in there because of the hard surface and hopefully find some locals with earthmoving equipment to get a start on the ground,” he said.

“It will be a big community effort.

“We’re hoping to be able to play some practice chukkas from February and small tournaments in autumn, if not the following year.

“We’re building this ground to last.”

Deepwater Jockey Club’s secretary-treasurer Tricia Stack says the club is more than excited with the funding hit and says the big Deepwater race meeting on 19 January will be followed with some intense work from the polo group from a few days later to get the ground going.

Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall delivered the funding on Monday and is hoping it will further boost local racing as well as engage the community. 

“The Deepwater Jockey Club and the newly formed local polo club are using this funding to develop a ground at the racecourse and forge a new sporting alliance that will increase the scope of sport locally,” Mr Marshall said.

“The Deepwater Jockey Club is a beaut little club; a unique club with a unique character that last year won the Community Race Club of the Year title for NSW. It only races once a year, but what an event that is with thousands of racegoers attending the January event.

“This new partnership will see the polo club affiliated with the NSW association, get its own ground, and give the jockey club a new home for horse sports that will see more people using the racecourse and more people attending to watch a new homegrown sport there.”