May 13, 2013
A surprise evening shower failed to put a dampener on this year’s Burrandowan Picnic Races, which celebrated its 91st birthday on Saturday.
The weather was overcast but held off during the races. A cloudburst soon after dark sent people scurrying for shelter but quickly cleared up to allow a full night of dancing and post-race celebrations.
Organisers said this year’s attendances seemed to be well up on last year, with packed camping grounds next to the course and well-patronised shuttle buses ferrying revellers from Kingaroy throughout most of the day.
Despite slightly worse-for-wear roads caused by the Australia Day floods, guests still came from near and far to attend the iconic event, with a big contingent of visitors from Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast and many others coming from even further afield.
As usual, the action got underway at the track soon after 9:00am with traditional clay target shooting.
By lunchtime the grounds were packed with patrons eager for a good time and hopeful of a few wins.
Fashion played a strong role at the event with a jam-packed Fashions Of The Field competition in four categories (Best Dressed Classic Lady, Best Dressed Couple, Best Dressed Contemporary Lady and Best Dressed Contemporary Gentleman).
Three judges took most of the afternoon to pick the winners from dozens of stylishly dressed entrants who trod the catwalk.
There was also a lot of action trackside, with a packed betting ring and several nail-biting races that had many punters shouting with excitement at the finishing post.
In the evening, an unseasonal shower hit the track soon after sunset that had many revellers running for cover. But within 20 minutes the skies cleared, the stars came out, the pit-fired barbecues swung into action and the dance floor stayed packed until late into the night.
Burrandowan Race Club Secretary Carolyn Stone told southburnett.com.au the committee was “very, very pleased” with the way the day had panned out.
“We had all sorts of people coming to celebrate this year, including a bucks party with 50 guests, a 21st birthday and a 50th wedding anniversary,” she said.
“The Rotary Club told us they sold 140kg of chips and over 800 steak burgers at their stand alone,” she said.
“The feedback we’ve had from everybody else is that everything went very smoothly and everyone was very happy with things. We had no accidents, no problems and even managed to get all the post-race clean-ups done by lunchtime Sunday. So it was just fantastic.”
- The next major event at the race track will be the Burrandowan Campdraft, which will be held over three days on the June long weekend (June 8-10).
|
|
|
|
|
|
RESULTS
Race 1 – Clovely Estate/Sally Joyce Design Class B Handicap (1000m)
1. Boot Shaker (2) – Damion McIntosh
2. Dr House (6) – Chelsea Jokic
3. Boxsa (1) – Chris Kearney
Time: 1:00.3
Margins: 1.5 lengths x 1 neck
Race 2 – South Burnett Times/BGA Agri Services QTIS Maiden Handicap (1200m)
1. Step Up Lady (12) – Maurice Crawford
2. Miss Mookychick (10) – Ian Coombes
3. Murphy’s Sunrise (4) – Damion McIntosh
Time: 1:9.7
Margins: 1 neck x 1 length
Race 3 – Ken Mills/Agforce/J & B Moloney Memorial Patrons Cup Class 4 Handicap (1200m)
1. Love Our Girls (2) – Billie-Rose Derbyshire
2. Desert Lair (3) – Rebecca Kerwin
3. Cyclone Steve (8) – Chris Kearney
Time: 1:9.7
Margins: 1.25 lengths x 3.75 lengths
Race 4 – Go Green Generation/Qld Country Life/4SB 1071 Open Handicap (1200m)
1. Mossanay (4) – Damion McIntosh
2. Vintage Flint (8) – Maurice Crawford
3. Release Me (3) – Chris Kearney
Time: 1:8.76
Margins: 1.75 lengths x 3 lengths
Race 5 – CROW FM 90.7/Mayor’s Red Earth Flood Appeal/SBRC Class 2 Handicap (1600m)
1. Crown News (9) – Todd Banks
2. Crazy Ways (3) – Billie-Rose Derbyshire
3. Taystar (1) – Chelsea Jokic
Time: 1;47.56
Margins: 3.5 lengths x 1 neck
