{"id":190187,"date":"2017-09-18T20:38:29","date_gmt":"2017-09-18T10:38:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=190187"},"modified":"2020-08-13T18:11:10","modified_gmt":"2020-08-13T08:11:10","slug":"racegoers-enjoy-a-spring-fling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2017\/09\/18\/racegoers-enjoy-a-spring-fling\/","title":{"rendered":"Racegoers Enjoy A Spring Fling"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Rae Pickstock-Hall, Kingaroy, chatted with friends Millie Browne, Nanango, and Marcia Brown, Fremantle, in the betting ring<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

September 18, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nanango’s Heritage Race Meeting on Saturday was not quite as hectic as August’s Nanango Cup, but that was due more to the start of the Spring school holidays than anything else.<\/p>\n

A healthy field of racegoers packed out Lee Park to witness the awarding of the South-East Queensland Racing Association’s 2016-17 Premierships, take part in the Lucky Betting Slip competition and generally enjoy the warm spring weather.<\/p>\n

A large marquee was set up at one end of the concourse so a large crowd of party-goers could celebrate an 18th birthday, and the race club’s car park was thick with vehicles most of the day.<\/p>\n

Nanango Race Club president Andrew Green said he regretted that a dry winter had left the track a little less springy than he’d prefer, but this didn’t seem to deter horse owners.<\/p>\n

All five races on the card all turned out to be very close-run affairs, with the slimmest of margins separating the first pair of horses past each winning post.<\/p>\n

One special feature of the meeting was the presentation of Premierships for the top trainer, horse of the year, and top jockey.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This year, trainers Glenn Richardson and Darryl Gardiner jointly won the Trainer’s Premiership.<\/p>\n

The Horse Of The Year award was won by Hopetoun Street, which is trained by Glenn Richardson.<\/p>\n

And the Top Jockey trophy went to Jason Hoopert, who had taken a nasty spill at August’s Cup meeting when his horse hit the running rails and dislodged him after he’d celebrated his 100th win since returning to racing.<\/p>\n

Hoopert, now fully recovered and fresh from a successful trip to far western Queensland, thanked Eidsvold Race Club president Lyle Murray, who attended the meeting to present the awards on behalf of the South-East Country Racing Association.<\/p>\n

The Desiree Gill Memorial Award was won by Nanango apprentice Hannah English, which was presented to her by Desiree’s husband Barry.<\/p>\n

Desiree Gill, 45, was a Premiership-winning Gympie jockey who was a very familiar face at South Burnett tracks.<\/p>\n

She died in November 2013 from head injuries sustained in a fall at Caloundra racecourse, and the Apprentice Jockey’s trophy has been awarded in her memory each year since.<\/p>\n

At the meeting, the Nanango Race Club also welcomed two new sponsors aboard – Leanne Preston, from Nanango’s Evolution Hair Studio, and Andrew Beck, from Nanango’s Star Motel.<\/strong><\/p>\n

After the last race of the day, Nanango Race Club officials conducted a draw to see who had won the meeting’s Lucky Betting Slip prize, which was offering dinner for two at Noosa’s exclusive Beach House restaurant and a night for two at Noosa’s Sofitel Hotel.<\/p>\n

The prize, which was sponsored by the Nanango Bookmakers’ Association, was worth $600 and was won by Diane York from Hervey Bay.<\/p>\n

Diane told southburnett.com.au<\/strong> she had never visited Lee Park before, but would certainly visit again after such a wonderful day trackside.<\/p>\n

“I had wins on the first and last races, but the ones in between were pretty tragic,” Diane said.<\/p>\n

“So winning this prize has really made my day. Thank you!”<\/p>\n