Eileen Ryan was a special quest of Illawarra Turf Club, at Kembla Grange race course, on the occasion of her 100^th birthday on Saturday.

She had been in hospital all week suffering with a case of pneumonia, however, when she heard a race was being named in her honour, she sought leave of absence from her doctor, to attend the races for a short a while.

The race club programmed the event as the second race on the card as the Eileen Ryan 100^th Birthday Maiden over 1200 metres.

Eileen was accompanied by her daughter Joanne, with the firm promise her mother would be returned to the hospital within reasonable time of the race being run.

Seated in the grandstand she received a steady stream of well wishes and friends to mark her special day.

The winner of her race was won by Bold Adventure, trained by racings first lady, Gai Waterhouse.

The day proved a great success, she was overwhelmed by the occasion and when jockeys, Grant Buckley and Jeff Penza, fully attired in their racing silks, each handed her a card, one from the Queen and the other from the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, her day then was complete.