Extra Attractions At Autumn Races

Cr Deb Dennien with Jean Heron, from Buderim, and Sonia Heron-Hill from Bidwell … Sonia dressed in the racing colours of her aunty, the late Nanango trainer Kaye Hill, who was remembered in Race 5 at Nanango on Saturday

May 27, 2026

Nanango’s annual Autumn Race Meeting last Saturday was extra special for both punters and fashionistas with special competitions happening both on and off the track.

On the track, a heat of the Battle Of The Bush series was raced, with winner, six-year-old grey gelding Milton Road now heading off to Eagle Farm to race against other regional winners on June 27.

On the catwalk, the regional winners of the Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s Fashions From Afar competition were selected, (see below), with Peri Cardiff, from Newcastle; and Thomas Thompson, from Cooyar, also heading to Eagle Farm for the Tattersalls Tiara Day race meeting.

Two new initiatives at Nanango were the Best Dressed Strapper competition, won by Kasha Beresford, from Toowoomba; and the “Paddock Pick” selected by South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff from all the best-dressed racegoers who didn’t enter the formal fashions competition. Mayor Kathy’s pick was Gloria Kirkness, from Nanango.

The race day also featured special competitions for the kids, including a golf ball hunt, as well as live music from Mr Q (Tony Cisneros) after Race 5.

The actual racing went smoothly although two late scratchings had the bookies doing calculations.

There was a sad note, though, with jockeys wearing black armbands after the news broke that jockey Shane McGovern, 67, had died in hospital weeks after a training accident at Charters Towers on April 8.

McGovern suffered severe injuries after becoming pinned when his mount, Reformist, suddenly collapsed and died.

The incident was a tragic reminder of the dangers of racing and followed the death of veteran Tamworth trainer Stephen Meyer, 71, who was kicked by a horse at Scone racecourse in NSW on May 15.

Ron Halvorsen, from Nanango, was enjoying a day at the races

Vanessa Kells, from the Gold Coast, with Sam Hill, Nanango

Brad Trace and Darhnell Barbeler, from Ellesmere

Wayne Hill and Bev Gardner, from Nanango, with Monique Conic, from the Gold Coast

Trainer Glenda Richardson with Best Dressed Strapper Kasha Beresford, from Toowoomba, who was presented with a prize by Cr Deb Dennien

“Paddock Pick” fashions winner Gloria Kirkness with South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff

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Fashions Of The Field

Nanango Race Club’s fashions competition had extra allure on Saturday as it was also a regional round of the Fashions From Afar competition.

The winners of the Ladies’ and Gentlemen’s competition each won $500 and earned the right to compete in the final which will be judged on Tattersall’s Tiara Day at Eagle Farm on June 27.

They will be competing against winners selected at 14 other race meetings across Queensland since April.

The Ladies representative was selected from the winners of the usual Contemporary Lady, Classic Lady and Millinery competitions.

Fashions competition co-ordinator Cr Deb Dennien, left, and judge Dale Olsson, second from right, with the finalists of the prestigious Fashions From Afar competition … winner Peri Cardiff, from Newcastle, and runner-up Neva Hallam, from Brisbane; Peri will be invited to represent Nanango Race Club in the fashions competition at the Tattersall’s Tiara Day at Eagle Farm and also took home a $500 cash prize

Fashions judge Kristy Carroll with the Gentleman’s Fashions From Afar runner-up Peter Cardiff, from Redlands; and winner Thomas Thompson, Cooyar … Thomas will be invited to represent Nanango Race Club at the Tattersall’s Tiara Day and also took home a $500 cash prize

Kristy Carroll with Junior Runner-Up Addilyn Thomas, 10, from Warwick; and Maverick Black, 4, from Nanango … Addilyn also won the colouring-in competition

Kristy with Lovely Local Lady runner-up Shelley Stark, from Kingaroy; and winner Amy Smoothy, Glencliff

Fashions judge Jayne McKenzie, left, with Contemporary Lady runner-up Julie Cardiff, from Redlands, and winner Peri Cardiff, Newcastle

Jayne with Classic Lady winner Neva Hallam, from Brisbane; and Chanelle Ferling, Kilcoy

Fashions judge Dale Olsson, centre, with Millinery runner-up Lee-Anne McDonald, from Dalby; and winner Haylee Martell, Gatton

Fashions of the Field judges Kristy Carroll, Toowoomba; Dale Olsson, Dalby; and Jayne McKenzie, Kilcoy; ham it up for the Nanango Race Club’s official photographer John Dalton

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Race Results

Black’n’Deadly (Jade Metcalfe) and Prince Of Diamonds (Isabel Jessop) go stride-by-stride to the line in Race 3

Race 1 – Carrollee Hotel Maiden Plate (1000m)
1. Sweet Poppy (13) – Emma Simsir
2. Yonaka (3) – Reece O’Connell
3. Aliza (11) – Kayla Barker
Time: 0:58.94
Margins: Head x 1 1/4 lengths

Race 2 – Kingaroy Freight Express QTIS Ratings Band 0-50 Handicap (1000m)
1. Wally’s Boy (1) – Paul Hamblin
2. Missy’s Ready (7) – Reece O’Connell
3. Paballo (3) – Chris Meehan
Time: 0:58.82
Margins: 1 length x 1 1/4 lengths

Race 3 – Homemakers Glass And Aluminium Benchmark 55 Handicap (1200m)
1. Black’n’Deadly (6) – Jade Metcalfe
2. Prince Of Diamonds (5) – Isabel Jessop
3. Jain (4) – Kelly Gates
Time: 1:10.99
Margins: Long head x 1 length

Race 4 – Alpine Edge 2026 Battle Of The Bush Nanango Qualifier Open Plate (1200m)
1. Milton Road (5) – Jess Emmerson
2. Calmer Karma (8) – Adin Thompson
3. Elected (2) – Paul Hamblin
Time: 1:09.82
Margins: 1 3/4 lengths x 1 1/4 lengths

Race 5 – Kaye Hill Memorial Benchmark 50 Handicap (sponsored by D & A Hill Family Holdings) (1600m)
1. Roigard (10) – Chris Taylor
2. Subdue (7) – Reece O’Connell
3. Bugden (4) – Paul Hamblin
Time: 1:35.90
Margins: 2 3/4 lengths x 2 1/2 lengths