December 12, 2016
Nanango Race Club’s bold experiment with a Sunday race meeting last weekend appears to have paid off.
Despite heatwave conditions that had many punters seeking shade for most of the afternoon, attendance numbers at the race club’s annual Christmas meeting were as high as any well-attended Saturday event.
The race club had opted for the non-standard race day due to conflicts with other meetings.
Race Club officials were uncertain how racegoers would respond to a Sunday outing, but as things turned out they had nothing to worry about.
Guests not only turned up to the track in their usual numbers, but many groups also took the opportunity to hold Christmas break-ups at the meeting, with half a dozen festive marquees dotted along the track’s lawn underneath the trees.
For others, the day’s race card held a lot of fascination – especially Race 2, a 1000 metre handicap named in honour of the Hunt family (who were having a reunion at the track) and Picnic In The Park, a racehorse purchased by Murgon trainer Malcolm Raabe in the 1980s which won 21 races from 23 starts and set a new Australian record in the process.
Over his 9 month racing career, Picnic In The Park represented the South Burnett on race tracks from the Gold Coast to Townsville, and this remarkable locally trained horse is now often compared to the better-known Black Caviar.
On Sunday, the race named in its honour was narrowly won by Man Overboard with Kenji Yoshida aboard, who pipped first race winner Hannah English by half a length.
Other races that drew interest were the Pederson Memorial (Race 3) and the Malcolm McCallum Memorial (Race 4), neither of which were won by local trainers this year.
Because the weather was so hot, the Fashions On The Field competition was moved from the middle of the meeting to its end.
The theme was “Tea Party Florals and Bowties”, and many stylishly dressed hopefuls took part to compete for prizes from Moffatdale Ridge wines and other sponsors.
In this, at least, locals secured all the honours, which provided a fitting end-note to another calendar year of racing at the Lee Park track.
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Happy 100th, Ethel!
The Nanango Race Club mounted a special morning tea for a special guest before the first race of the day last Sunday.
The morning tea was put on to honour Ethel Ryan, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday.
Nanango Race Club president Andrew Green said Ethel – or Mrs Ryan, as many knew her – had been a loyal supporter of the Race Club throughout her life, and the club wanted to acknowledge this with a special 100th birthday cake.
Ethel cut the cake before posing for a few photos with family and friends, who came for the occasion in such great numbers the Race Club’s tea room was “standing room only”.
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Results
Race 1 – Star Tyrepower Kingaroy BenchMark 50 Handicap (800m)
1. Jill’s Shadow (12) – Hannah English
2. Jeptoo (8) – Baylee Nothdurft
3. I Am McLovin (3) – Adam Spinks
Time: 0:46.10
Margins: Length x long neck
Race 2 – Hunt Family Reunion/Picnic In The Park BenchMark 55 Handicap (1000m)
1. Man Overboard (6) – Kenji Yoshida
2. Hopetoun Street (4) – Hannah English
3. The Playroom (9) – Melody O’Brien
Time: 0:57.60
Margins: 1/2 length x 2 lengths
Race 3 – Nanango RSL/Pederson Memorial QTIS Maiden Plate (1000m)
1. Current Figures (6) – Corey Bayliss
2. Sir Locksmith (2) – Adam Spinks
3. Court Rules (4) – Shannon Apthorpe
Time: 0:58.75
Margins: 1 1/4 lengths x short half head
Race 4 – M. McCallum Memorial BenchMark 65 Handicap (1200m)
1. King Cobia (1) – Dakota Graham
2. Canid (6) – Les Tilley
3. Winner Wimmer (2) – Hannah English
Time: 1:09.76
Margins: Short half head x 3/4 length
Race 5 – John Dundas Automotive Class B Handicap (1600m)
1. Total Surprise (1) – Nozi Tomizawa
2. Get Outa Utah (8) – Adam Spinks
3. Mower (4) – Dakota Graham
Time: 1:34.79
Margins: 2 3/4 lengths x 2 lengths
- View videos all all five races on the Nanango Race Club’s YouTube Channel
