February 19, 2018
Patrons heading to Lee Park next Saturday can take an early look at the photographic display that will be a central attraction for Nanango’s Golden Anniversary meeting on Easter Saturday.
It certainly is worth comparing the conditions for the reopening program on April 20, 1968 with today’s environment.
Back then virtually everything was al fresco.
The old Nanango railway station building was the course’s hub.
It has a new resting spot a short distance from the modern complex and will house the historical gallery.
The course now has a covered grandstand and two mini-stands, extensive covered areas that cater for the punters and for those who are keen to mainly socialise.
There is a refreshment room, a members’ lounge, a hospitality facility and an upgraded amenities block.
Watching televised, live racing action from the “away tracks” was not even a wild dream back in the 1960s.
The thoroughbreds are looked after too – the tie-up stalls are first rate.
There is a pre-parade ring and an enlarged mounting yard. The safety of horse and rider has been enhanced by the construction of a kangaroo-proof fence.
* * *
The Big Kitty
The February edition of Racing Queensland’s RACE Magazine carries details of the Battle Of The Bush series that climaxes with a $100,000 final at Doomben on Tattersall’s Tiara Day, June 23.
The final is restricted to gallopers who have started in any of the 16 qualifiers across the state and have not won a metropolitan race in the preceding two years.
The first three home in the heats are deemed to be automatic nomination for the feature for the non-TAB fraternity.
Unplaced candidates can be entered but it seems unlikely that there would be vacancies in the field.
Naturally, the winners along the way are all exempt from the ballot. Second placegetters and then the third horses are next in the pecking order.
There is a host of other criteria that will be used if necessary.
Float subsidies will range from $500 for South East and Eastern Downs Regions to $2,000 for the runners from the Far North and North-West.
Nanango will host a leg of the competition on May 26.
To be eligible for the qualifying races, nominated horses have to raced at five non-TAB meetings in the twelve months leading to acceptance time for the relevant contest.
* * *
(Photo: Nanango Race Club)
Upside To A Nose Defeat
Klammer (Dakota Graham, $2.60 favourite) went down by the barest possible margin to Wildebeast (Gemma Steele, $3.20) in the Open Handicap at Eidsvold’s postponed meeting on Sunday.
The silver lining in the cloud on a track rated as Soft 7 was the fact that the run was a step towards qualification for the Battle of the Bush series.
If connections opt to take that pathway, three of the mandatory five non-TAB assignments will be on the books.
The Snitzel gelding’s efforts at Nanango in May last year and Gympie in June also count towards the requirement.
Nanango has an Open sprint on the card for next Saturday.
The offering should prove attractive to parties that want to have a crack at the ultimate, the first prize in a $100,000 race.
Klammer, part owned by Peter Jackson and his trainer Glenn Richardson, has already competed in lucrative events.
The now six-year-old was very promising in his younger days.
The bay ran third in the 2014 Black Opal (Listed) at Canberra, picked up the minor money in the STC Pago Pago Stakes (Group 2), and was third again in the $200,000 Kindergarten Stakes (Group 3).
As an early three-year-old, he finished in the same place in the Heritage Stakes (Listed) at Randwick.
The good news is that the Richardson yard began the day delightfully.
The stablemates Lucky Larrikin (Billie-Rose Derbyshire, $2.00 favourite) and Urubamba (Dakota Graham, $2.40) filled the quinella in the Maiden Handicap.
Reminder: The Moffatdale Ridge Wines Spot Fashion judging theme for next Saturday at Lee Park looks like being ultra suitable. Floral Shirts, Floppy Hats and Floaty Dresses should match up with the weather pattern of late.
