Racegoers Love Valentine's Day - southburnett.com.au

The showers didn’t deter Nanango Races visitors Neva Hallam, from Brisbane, and Tess Schiffmann, from Crows Nest

February 18, 2026

Love was in the air at the Nanango Race Club’s Valentine’s Day meeting on Saturday … but unfortunately so were grey clouds and showers.

However, the cool and damp weather didn’t scare away racegoers keen to dress up for the big day.

Organisers had hoped to speed through the meeting to beat the threatened rain, but were stymied when Race 2’s start was delayed by a runaway and another entrant which cast a plate.

But despite these hiccups, the rest of the meeting went off smoothly without any rain delays.

The Fashions competition (see below) was inundated with entries and again had to be spread across two race breaks.

It was relocated to the betting ring’s undercover area to avoid the drizzle.

After Race 5 was done and dusted, local singer Natalie Fenton had the crowd up and dancing into the night.

Catherine and Paul Johnston, from New Farm, dressed to impress for Valentine’s Day

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Fashions Of The Field

Nanango Race Club’s recent Fashions of the Field competitions no longer have a “theme”, but many competitors on Saturday still chose to dress in pinks or red to reflect the fact that it was Valentine’s Day.

(The only category that officially had a Valentine’s Day theme was the Best-Dressed Couple.)

Mayor Kathy Duff compered the competition while judge Felicity Reinke, from Wondai, sashed the winners.

Classic Lady runner-up Verelle O’Shanesy, Jandowae, with winner Kirra Greem, from Brisbane

Judge Felicity Reinke with Contemporary Lady runner-up Tess Schiffmann, from Crows Nest; and winner Sandy Holmes, Brisbane

Felicity Reinke with Best Dressed Gentleman winner Paul Johnston, from New Farm, and runner-up Peter Cardiff, from Redlands

Best Dressed Couple winners Thomas and Barbara Thompson, from Cooyar; and runners-up Abby Jones and Kent Hassam, from Bundaberg

Felicity Reinke with Millinery competition runner-up Neva Hallam, from Brisbane, and Verelle O’Shanesy, from Jandowae

Lovely Local Lady winner Alicia Roberts, from Wondai, with runner-up Catherine Jurd, Inverlaw

Age 7 & Under Fashions winners … Maverick Black, 4, from Nanango; and Kiali Potene, 7, from Gatton

Age 8 to 18 Fashions winners … Jack Neave, 15, and his sister Indi, 10, from Kingaroy, with Felicity Reinke

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Race Results

Top-weight Pull The Catch steams towards the finishing post in Race 1 with Gabrielle Semmens aboard

Race 1 – Nanango Medical Centre Class B Handicap (800m)
1. Pull The Catch (1) – Gabrielle Semmens
2. La Suerte (4) – Stephanie Tierney
3. She’s My Lady (2) – Brea Harrison
Time: 0:46.83
Margins: 1 3/4 length x 5 lengths

Race 2 – Alpine Edge QTIS Maiden Plate (sponsored by Clear Mountain Fairview) (1000m)
1. Queen Of Ssorts (5) – Paul Hamblin
2. Brave Like Lily (8) – Jess Emmerson
3. Step Obsessed (6) – Kayla Johnston
Time: 0:59.26
Margins: 4 1/2 lengths x 1 length

Race 3 – Frank Mills Tribute Ratings Band 0-55 Handicap (1000m)
1. Bordeaux Hopper (10) – Jess Emmerson
2. Hi Frank (5) – Gabrielle Semmens
3. Above The World (8) – Brea Harrison
Time: 0:59.55
Margins: 1 length x 1 length

Race 4 – Deb & Stan Corbett Open Handicap (1000m)
1. Ready And Mabel (3) – Jess Emmerson
2. Corkscrew (4) – Adam Spinks
3. Holiday Dreams (1) – Stephanie Tierney
Time: 0:57.98
Margins: 6 lengths x 3 1/2 lengths

Race 5 – Eddie & Jean Hancock Family Benchmark 50 Handicap (1600m)
1. Rothweiler (3) – Brea Harrison
2. Craiglea Oreo (6) – Stephanie Tierney
3. Shackamaxon (11) – Morgan Butler
Time: 1:35.77
Margins: 2 1/3 lengths x 1 length

NB. For the first time at Nanango, all race times were recorded electronically