Launching the promotional poster for our 2026 race meeting
The 2026 St Pats race poster has landed, with the club using next year’s event to
acknowledge the late Pro Hart.
The race day falls on Saturday 28 March which is the 20-year anniversary of the
passing of Broken Hill’s most iconic artist.
Since the club’s first meeting in 1966 a poster has been produced each year to help
market the event with Pro contributing four paintings and his family providing artwork in
the ensuring years.
The artwork on the current poster is one that the club used in 1984 where Pro depicted
the infamous ring-in where a horse called Nordica raced as Foden and won the
Orlando Improvers Handicap at St Pats in 1983.
Racing as Foden, the horse won the race after being backed from 50-1 to 2-1 equal
favourite.
The ring-in was detected and several people faced court.
“It is one of the great paintings and depicts a real-life event,“ said St Pats President
Andrew Schmidt.
“When we approached the family about honouring Pro and using one of his artworks,
this was the one that shared a part of our history and was our first choice. “
“There is no doubt Pro Hart was one of the most generous and community minded
people Broken Hill has produced. He and his family contributed so much to so many
organisations and people.”
The poster artwork over the last 60 years has been provided by local artists and is a
way of showcasing their talent.
“The club has been so fortunate and grateful to the many gifted artists in Broken Hill
and their generosity has allowed us to continue with a quality poster each year, “Mr
Schmidt said.
The posters have started being delivered to local businesses and sent interstate with
St Pats already receiving requests from people seeking one to add to their collection
or to display.
“We do rely on the local community assisting us to promote our race meeting and
they can do so by collecting posters from the Visitor Information Centre and if
travelling take some and drop them off when on the road.“ Mr Schmidt said.
With the poster completed Mr Schmidt said attention in the new year will switch to
the March race meeting.
“Many of our hospitality areas have experienced a surge in bookings and history tells
us that by mid-to-late January some will be sold out. “
“Our focus will also be at the racecourse where we will oversee the installation of a
new inside running rail and having the track in A1 condition for race day.“
“There is much to do but we have a wonderful committee and are supported by so
many companies and people.”
