Long-time Nanango Race Club vice-president Graham Knight, who will be stepping down at the next AGM, will have the Race Club’s public bar named in his honour

August 15, 2016

The Nanango Race Club’s annual Nanango Cup meeting on Saturday proved a crowd pleaser for all sorts of reasons .. not only for patrons, but for Race Club officials, too.

The August races at Lee Park are the South Burnett’s first meeting of the new racing year.

All horses get a year older on August 1, and the Cup meeting sees the awarding of the region’s premiership honours and the annual Blessing Of The Jockeys before racing begins anew for another year.

This year, the honour for being the region’s top trainer for 2015-16 went to Gympie’s Glenn Richardson, while the trophy for Horse Of The Year went to Turbo Teddy and trainer Steve Thomas. Top jockey for 2015-16 was apprentice Jedidiah Hodge.

The Race Club also took the opportunity of Saturday’s meeting to present a surprise award of its own to long-serving Vice-President Graham Knight, who will be standing down at the next Annual General Meeting due to his age.

President Andrew Green said the club had voted to rename its public bar in Graham’s honour to recognise his many years of dedicated service.

In the mounting yard, Nanango parish priest Father Nigel Sequeira conducted the annual Blessing Of The Jockeys ceremony before the start of Race 1, reminding everyone that 880 Australian jockeys had lost their lives pursuing their occupation and asking for a minute’s silence in their memory, before blessing all the jockeys racing that day.

After this, with the formalities attended to, the meeting began in earnest.

There was a lot of interest in Race 2, the ‘Remembering Mick’s Luck Handicap’ which was named in honour of one of the region’s most outstanding race horses.

In an 11-year racing career between 1963 and 1974, Mick’s Luck had 88 wins from 200 starts, along with many placings.

On Saturday, top-weight Man Of Law took to the field in Mick’s Luck’s colours in memory of a time when Mick’s Luck was forced to carry 83kg at the 1971 Burrandowan Races, and managed to win anyway.

Sadly for owners Andrew Green and Glenn Richardson, the charm didn’t hold in 2016 and Man of Law ran 11th in a 12-horse field, beaten soundly by Otoshi.

Patrons packed the betting ring, the dining hall and bars and showed off their stylish black-and-white themed fashions.

Saturday’s meeting attracted visitors from all over south-east Queensland, and even a few from overseas.

Most came just for the day, but several groups from Brisbane and the Gold Coast took the opportunity of the Cup race to stay in the region for the entire weekend.

There were also lots of local pollies in evidence, with Mayor Keith Campbell and Cr Roz Frohloff judging the Fashions Of The Field competitions while Crs Kathy Duff, Ros Heit and ‘Spud’ Jones were casting their eyes over form guides as they enjoyed the near-perfect early Spring weather.

By late afternoon all eyes were on Race 5 to see who would win this year’s $10,000 Nanango Cup.

And the answer came 96 seconds after the gates opened when Jason Hoopert guided Tampere past the winning post a full length ahead of second placegetter Brady ‘N’ Me, with Hashtag Yoli a further one and a quarter lengths behind.

Nanango Race Club’s next meeting with be the Heritage Cup Meeting on Saturday, September 17.

This will be followed by Wondai’s Caulfield Cup meeting on October 15 and Kumbia’s annual Melbourne Cup Day meeting on Tuesday, November 1 before racing concludes for the calendar year back at Nanango with the Christmas Race Meeting on December 4.

Trainer Of The Year Glenn Richardson is presented with his trophy by Nanango Race Club president Andrew Green
Horse Of The Year trainer Steve Thomas is presented with his trophy; Steve won for Turbo Teddy
Nanango Catholic priest Fr Nigel Sequeira performed the annual Blessing Of The Jockeys ceremony before the start of Race 1 to formally usher in a new year of racing
Connections of Mick’s Luck gathered at the winner’s stall to welcome the winner of Race 2 – the ‘Remembering Mick’s Luck Handicap’ – which was named in honour of the legendary South Burnett racehorse which clocked up 88 wins from 200 starts in an 11-year racing career
In a field where most dressed to the Black and White theme, the Hawaiian Shirt Boys from Brisbane stood out. .. the happy five had come to Nanango for a weekend away, and were delighted to meet Mayor Keith Campbell; the Boys – who purchased their shirts in a bulk buy at Lowes – later received a Highly Commended in the Men’s Fashions Of The Field competition
Ladies Fashions runner-up Rachel Wark and winner Milly Bakker-Meyers, both from Brisbane, were congratulated by Cr Roz Frohloff and Mayor Keith Campbell, centre
Cr Roz Frohloff praised Men’s Fashions Of The Field winner Bill Brown, from Brisbane, for his understated elegance, as did fellow judge Mayor Keith Campbell
Guests came from everywhere for the Cup, including the Top Hats (Wayne, Bruce, Barry, Geoff and Garry) who came from the Gold Coast for a weekend stay; Cr Roz Frohloff, Cr Kathy Duff and Cr Ros Heit were happy to provide advice on things to see while they were in the region
Helen Batey, from Nanango, spent time at the track with friends Maureen Wilson and Debbie Suddes, who were both visiting from Durham in the UK
Old friends Hazel Christie-Small, Blackbutt, and Rod Morgan, Nanango, both came to the track for a flutter
The look says it all: Jockey Jason Hoopert was elated after he won this year’s Nanango Cup aboard Tampere
Nanango Race Club president Andrew Green and Nanango Cup sponsor Peter Jackson from the Fitzroy Hotel presented the 2016 trophy and horse rug to Tampere’s trainer Kerry Munce

* * *

Jason Hoopert powers over the line aboard Tampere in Race 5 to win this year’s Nanango Cup a length ahead of his nearest rival Brady ‘N’ Me

Results

Race 1 – Deb Frecklington MP Maiden Plate (800m)
1. In Taiwan (13) – Anthony Nutley
2. Sealegs Lilly (9) – Sheree McEwan
3. Hill Dagonda (6) – Caroline Allardyce
Time: 0:46.34
Margins: 1/2 Neck x 1 length

Race 2 – NaTDA / Remembering Mick’s Luck Class 1 Handicap (1000m)
1. Otoshi (6) – Melissa Cox
2. Quattro Fantastico (4) – Pietro Romeo
3. I Am Relentless (2) – Nathan Evans
Time: 0:58.50
Margins: 2 lengths x Short head

Race 3 – McDonalds Kingaroy QTIS Maiden Plate (1200m)
1. The Playroom (11) – Leeanne McCoy
2. Culottes (6) – Corey Bayliss
3. He’ll Be Right (2) – Bradley Appo
Time: 1:11.20
Margins: 1 neck x 2 lengths

Race 4 – Huston Nissan BenchMark 60 Handicap (1200m)
1. Daliwoy Bay (5) – Melody O’Brien
2. I Do Care (3) – Nicholas Keal
3. Simply Showtime (7) – Amy Van Der Sanden
Time: 1:11.23
Margins: 3/4 length x 1 neck

Race 5 – XXXX Fitzroy Hotel Nanango Cup Open Handicap (1600m)
1. Tampere (4) – Jason Hoopert
2. Brady ‘N’ Me (3) – Cecily Eaton
3. Hashtag Yolo (7) – Jason Missen
Time: 1:35.90
Margins: 1 length x 1 1/4 lengths

Race 6 – Bendigo Bank Class B Handicap (1600m)
1. Ms Sarandon (1) – Corey Bayliss
2. Yours Truthfully (2) – Gary Geran
3. Mango Tango (11) – Jason Hoopert
Time: 1:35.93
Margins: 1 neck x 1 3/4 lengths

  • View videos all all five races on the Nanango Race Club’s YouTube Channel
Otoshi sped across the line in Race 2 – the Remembering Mick’s Luck Handicap – with Melissa Cox aboard, two lengths clear of their their next nearest rival Quattro Fantastico

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