PUB OF THE MONTH THE PALACE HOTEL,BROKEN HILL

WHAT’S BEHIND THE PAINTINGS… WORDS/PHOTOS COLIN WHELAN

On Saturday March 19th 1988 the punters of NSW headed to the polls to elect a new state government but way out west in Broken Hill, something far more important was on the cards: the 24th running of the St Pats Race Day.

Begun in 1965, this race meet was already an icon of the outback. It was a fund-raiser for the local catholic schools and had grown into a week long festival also featuring a major volunteer-run charity night at the track with games like Crown and Anchor, Unders and Overs, and One to Six.