Kingaroy’s Kylie Wenham and Caylen Cox joined Brisbane friend Greta Busch for a fun day out at this year’s Burrandowan Picnic Races
Keeley Miller, Kingaroy, and Meagan Rowlings, Toowoomba, lent an air of contemporary fashion to the 93-year-old event

May 11, 2015

It was a big day at the Burrandowan Picnic Races … big fields, a big crowd and a big response to the initiatives introduced by the race club this year.

While final gate numbers are still being tallied, Race Club Secretary Carolyn Stone believes between 2500 and 3000 patrons packed into the track, which is one of the best attendances seen in several years.

“Everything went brilliantly this year,” Carolyn said.

“We had a record number of nominations for the races because of recent meeting cancellations at some other tracks, so we had to expand our normal five race card to seven races.

“This gave punters a lot more action, and judging by how busy the betting ring was all day they enjoyed it.

“The weather was also just about perfect, and the 100ml of rain we had in the week leading up to this year’s meeting made everything look very green and fresh.”

Two other innovations – pre-packed picnic hampers and a High Tea in the Race Club hall – also proved winners.

Bookings for both were taken online through the Race Club’s website, and by race day there were 76 pre-ordered hampers filling up the cold room awaiting collection, and a capacity crowd of 70 booked in for an afternoon High Tea in the Hall.

In the evening, patrons at the popular pit-fired barbecue took part in another new competition: the best-dressed barbecue table.

This year’s inaugural winners were Gwen and Terry Maher from Kingaroy, whose stylishly decorated table drew admiration from everyone who saw it.

“I have the feeling we’ll see even more competitors try out for this event next year,” Carolyn said.

Apart from good gate takings, which will go to assist the RACQ CareFlight Rescue Helicopter this year, Race Club officials were also very pleased with the way this year’s meeting unfolded.

“There were no incidents on the track, no accidents on the field, and even though it got a bit chilly when the sun went down everyone seemed to have a really good time,” Carolyn said.

“We had a great roll-up for our traditional Fashions Of The Field competition, and there was a lot more people than usual picnicking on the lawns.”

Almost 1000 people camped overnight at the track on Saturday.

Others stayed for several days leading up to the event, including a group of Rotarians heading north to the Gulf who have told the club they had such a good time they’d like to come back and do it all over again next year.

“All in all, it was another really great year,” Carolyn said.

“Now we just have to work out how to top it in 2016.”

Reunions are a Burrandowan staple … this year sisters Jo, Caitlin and Bronte Holding reunited at the track; Jo travelled from Moranbah, Caitlin from Toowoomba and Bronte from Brisbane
Meagan Rowlings, from Toowoomba, met up with Jeffrey Trezise, from Kingaroy, at the track
Jeanette Newson, from RACQ CareFlight, with Burrandowan Race Club secretary Carolyn Stone
Jacob Page, Nina Page and Isaiah Woods cut an eye-popping presence trackside; Isaiah, from Kingaroy, said he imported his suit from the United Kingdom especially for this year’s race meeting
Anne Bredhauer, Karen Coe and Michelle Mearns enjoyed a High Tea in the hall
Lily McGill, 10, from Ironpot assisted mum Anne in the Race Club’s merchandise shop
Jasmin Lam Sing, Brisbane; Rosanna Allan, Dalby; Caroline Davis, Brisbane; and Candice Humphreys, Kingaroy were a very stylish foursome at the track
Annette Mearns and Janene McLellan had a great time at the High Tea
Race sponsor Dr Susan Mercer, from Clovely Estate, enjoyed the meeting
Claire Membery, from Cleveland, and Mitch O’Brien, from Toowoomba, were runners-up in this year’s Best Dressed Couple competition
Michael and Amelia Wood, from Jondaryan, won the Best Dressed Couple competition with their matching green ensembles
Neighbours Andrew Homewood and Charles Green, from Warra, took the top two places for this year’s Best Dressed Gentlemen
Christine Baker, from Toowoomba, and Kirsty Campbell, from Ironpot, took the top two places in this year’s Best Dressed Classic Lady section of Burrandowan’s popular Fashions Of The Field competition
Friends Madeleine McDermid and Taylah Teschner, from Brisbane, took the top two places in the Best Dressed Contemporary Lady section; Taylah said she had to persuade Madeleine to enter
Kingaroy’s Jackie Freeman, Vicki Trace and Mitch Freeman took a break at the track’s bar
The Burrandowan Race Track was packed all day and night with thousands of keen racegoers
Shaz Birkett, Jasmynne McEfmer, Chantal Harth, Angela Stevenson, Karen Barnett and Delwyn Birkett celebrated their day at the races with a High Tea

* * *

Come On Lu Lu and Tropical Heatwave streak across the line in Race 3 … Come On Lu Lu took the win by a nose in a photo finish decision that stunned Tropical Heatwave jockey Jason Missen

Results

Race 1 – South Burnett Times / BGA Agri Services Class B Handicap (1000m)
1. Arma De Fuego (2) – Nathan Evans
2. Fields Of Oxley (9) – Damion McIntosh
3. Mystery Angel (6) – Laura Cheshire
Time: 1:01.85
Margins: Neck x 1/2 length

South Burnett Times / BGA Agri Services Class B Handicap (1000m)
1. Dr House (7) – Hannah Phillips
2. Scratchy (6) – Jedidiah Hodge
3. Bizarre Rock (4) – Melody O’Brien
Time: 1:01.61
Margins: Long neck x 3/4 length

Race 3 – Clovely Estate / 4SB 1071 AM / Ted Fisher Benchmark 65 Handicap (1000m)
1. Come On Lu Lu (4) – Melody O’Brien
2. Tropical Heatwave (2) – Jason Missen
3. Captain Clayton (1) – Hannah Phillips
Time: 1:01.54
Margins: Nose x 1 3/4 lengths

Race 4 – Selby Keys Memorial / HOT FM QTIS Maiden Plate (1200m)
1. Take No Notice (13) – Damion McIntosh
2. Flinders Luck (7) – Todd Banks
3. Yamanners (9) – Shannon Apthorpe
Time: 1:11.40
Margins: 1 length x 1/2 length

Race 5 – Selby Keys Memorial / HOT FM QTIS Maiden Plate (1200m)
1. Moss Tank (1) – Shaun Bayliss
2. Madame Bollinger (13) – Stephanie Lacy
3. Hay Life (5) – Hannah Phillips
Time: 1:12.00
Margins: Head x 1 1/2 lengths

Race 6 – AgForce Qld / Patrons Cup Open Handicap (1200m)
1. Writtenintherain (3) – Danielle Daniel
2. Le Max (12) – Shannon Apthorpe
3. Glenthorn Avenue (7) – Jason Missen
Time: 1:10.10
Margins: 1/2 Head x 3 3/4 lengths

Race 7 – CROW FM 90.7 / SBRC Mayor’s Community Fund Benchmark 60 Handicap (1600m)
1. Red Beretta (1) – Lyall Appo
2. Count Romano (2) – Hannah Phillips
3. Cross The Star (5) – Melody O’Brien
Time: 1:49.05
Margins: 2 1/4 lengths x 3/4 length

Damion McIntosh readies Fields Of Oxley for Race 1 … it went on to be placed second, and McIntosh had to wait until Race 4 for a win aboard Take No Notice

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