THIS week is the first of two consecutive Ipswich racing weekends. It is the Labour Day holiday weekend which features the Legs and Eddies Day on the Saturday and Labour Day Cup on Monday.

These two meetings have been on the Ipswich calendar for 13 years and have been strongly supported by St Edmund’s College Foundation, Ipswich Hospital Foundation and the Mining and Energy Division of the CFMEU.

The free family fun day on Monday and the Ipswich Mile Gift foot racing on Saturday are popular outings for important areas of the Ipswich community prior to the Ipswich Cup just six weeks later.

Families will be catered for at the Labour Day meeting with free entry, free rides for the kids, free animal farm and free face painting thanks to Bendigo Bank Ipswich Mall Branch. Gates open at 10am.

While minors are precluded from attending the 18+ Ipswich Cup Day, there is ample opportunity to enjoy a day at the races this weekend.