She joins retired District Court judge Kevin Hammond and parliamentarian Max Trenorden.

Mrs Enright replaces her late husband Pat who died at the end of last year.

“He’d be very delighted,” she said.

Just short of her 92nd birthday, Mrs Enright is the club’s first female patron and has been involved with local racing for more than 60 years.

She and Pat were married for almost 70 years.

The Enrights are synonymous with Northam Race Club.

Pat joined the committee in 1955 and was elected patron in 2000.

Mrs Enright was club secretary for six months in 1980.

“I took it on because they were in trouble,” she said.

“I turned a $28,000 debt into a $6000 profit.

A keen race-goer, Mrs Enright is looking forward to her term as patron.

“You ought to have an interest or you may as well give up,” she said.

“And I’ve got a lot of friends in the industry.”

Northam Race Club president Tony Marwick said the club was delighted Mrs Enright had agreed to become a patron.

“The club feels privileged to have Gertrude as a patron as she brings so much history to the club,” he said.

“It is the highest honour the club can offer and Gertrude richly deserves it.”

The club’s annual general meeting re-elected Mike O’Shea and Garry Hall to the committee.