Kathy Duff and Jamie Mackenzie
South Burnett councillor Kathy Duff caught up with Southern Downs councillor Jamie Mackenzie at the races

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).
Libby Daniels and Belinda Greenwood
Stylish black and white never goes out of fashion, and Libby Daniels and Belinda Greenwood turned heads on course with their elegant outfits

Caylen Cox
Contemporary Ladies Fashions Of The Field winner Caylen Cox, from Kingaroy

Lauren Cross and Holly Ferling
Lauren Cross and Holly Ferling helped out at the Burrandowan Race Club’s canteen
Dr and Mrs Michael Okonkwo
Dr and Mrs Michael Okonkwo travelled from Brisbane to enjoy the racing action
Ashley Barratt, Chris Brandon, Ian Burnett and Steve Hutchinson
May the AgForce be with you … Ashley Barratt and Chris Brandon from Brisbane and Steve Hutchinson, (right), from Sydney caught up with AgForce President Ian Burnett

Susan Dowideit Reiger
Susan Dowideit Reiger treading the catwalk in the Classic Ladies Fashions Of The Field

Pat Hall and Carolyn Price
Pat Hall and Carolyn Price had fun watching all the race-day action
Veronica Webster, Bonnie Teschner, Sophia Taylor and Clare Fitz-Herbert
Veronica Webster, Bonnie Teschner, Sophia Taylor and Clare Fitz-Herbert helped patrons buy Burrandowan accessories at the Race Club’s Gift Shop
Kingaroy State High School Stage Band
The Kingaroy State High School Stage Band provided live music throughout the afternoon
Hugh Campbell and Andrew O'Shanesy
Race Committee volunteers Hugh Campbell and Andrew O’Shanesy manned the gates
Greg Jackson Memorial Tree
One Burrandowan tradition that’s never made the news is a small, quiet gathering that happens at the track at 3:00pm every year on Burrandowan Race Day. Friends of former journalist Greg “Jacko” Jackson gather around a memorial tree planted there in 2004 in his memory to “share a beer with Greg” and remember him. This year Chris Jackson, Mike Kilkenny, Anita Heaps, Brooke McCann, Karen Kilkenny, John Sexton, Cathy Jackson and Helen Schaffer were among the small crowd who gathered around the tree to remember the good times they shared

* * *

Apprentice jockey Billie-Rose Derbyshire flying past the winning post on Love Our Girls in Race 3, more than a length ahead of runner-up Desert Lair

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

Miss Mookychick and Murphy’s Sunrise lead the field as it turns onto the straight in Race 2