SydCOM will play a major role on Kembla Grange Racecourse’s premier race day after securing naming rights for The Warra.
The commercial garden and turf maintenance business trumped more than 40 others for the opportunity to attach its brand to the Listed 1000m sprint on The Gong Raceday which will be held on Saturday, 21st November 2026. With a prize pool of $300,000 SydCom The Warra is the second richest race on The Illawarra Turf Club’s calendar.
The result was decided at The Warra Club’s annual black-tie gala dinner at Kembla Grange Racecourse over the weekend, where members of The Warra Club were drawn one by one from the barrel and allocated a race on the program. The final business drawn won naming rights to The Warra.
It is the first year SydCOM has been part of The Warra Club and Director Ben Paterson couldn’t believe his luck.
“Our close friends at Peak Gardens introduced us to The Warra Club as a great way to network, meet new people, and socialise, though the win has brought on some fun rivalry and banter,” Paterson said.
“Winning this year’s naming rights has been amazing. We came on board thinking the sponsorship would be good for the business and didn’t expect to be catapulted straight to the top.
“We are looking forward to the season’s events, especially having the honour of presenting the winner of our race with their trophy.”
Snap Print Solutions Wollongong, naming rights sponsor of The Warra in 2024, was runner-up in this year’s draw.
SydCOM specialises in commercial and government horticultural services, large-area mowing, and specialist turf management, servicing clients from Greater Sydney to the Australian Capital Territory.
The Illawarra Turf Club CEO Steven Keene introduced The Warra Club three years ago and said it has been a hit.
“It’s a unique sponsorship opportunity,” Keene said. “It gives businesses of all sizes, not just one major sponsor, a chance to win naming rights to a feature race on our premier day and the exposure from that is priceless.”
Tickets and hospitality packages for The Gong are available now via Moshtix, with second release general admission from $25. Some areas including the official luncheon in the A.J. “Bert” Lillye Lounge have already sold out.
