Maxi Races gets back on track this weekend...

The Maxi Races committee are excited to be returning to the track this weekend after a two-year standstill.

For the first time since 2018, horses will return to the bush track at Maxwelton (50 kilometres west of Richmond) for their annual event of the season on Saturday, April 10.

Maxi Races has seen a string of back luck over the last few years having to continuously postpone three of the past four events.

In 2017 the races were switched to Mount Isa Race Club after officials deemed the Maxi track unsafe - a fate that befell Boulia races at Easter this year.

Then 2019 witnessed the unprecedented north west floods and 2020 was hit by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the unfortunate run of events, Maxi Races vice president Megan Easton is determined they will host a successful event in 2021.

"We haven't raced here in a number of years so everything is getting run through a fine-tooth comb," Ms Easton said.

"We've had some curve balls thrown in with COVID-19, however we have a COVID-Safe plan in place with Queensland Racing to facilitate a safe racing environment.

"Due to the event being outdoors, COVID-19 mask mandate will have limited impact on the patrons attending the event so we are looking forward to putting on a good event."

The small community of Maxwelton has a population of four people, which is predicted to swell to over 400 people just for the weekend.

"Maxi Races is a remote country race meeting and it is about providing a family-orientated community event for the region," Ms Easton said.

"It is critical to get social events up and running again. After 2019 floods there were limited events on and it was a lot to ask of the committee to turn around and volunteer to put on the races and away from their own impacted businesses.

"Then with COVID-19, we are already remote to start with, so it's critical to get some human interaction with your peers, this event is very important for everybody."

The Maxi Races will include a five race program, with gates opening at noon, first race at 1.30pm and free gate entry.

The story Maxi Races gets back on track this weekend first appeared on The North West Star.