{"id":317979,"date":"2022-05-10T21:31:24","date_gmt":"2022-05-10T11:31:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=317979"},"modified":"2022-05-16T20:12:37","modified_gmt":"2022-05-16T10:12:37","slug":"racegoers-soak-up-burrandowan-fun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2022\/05\/10\/racegoers-soak-up-burrandowan-fun\/","title":{"rendered":"Racegoers Soak Up Burrandowan Fun"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Anita Baker and Karyn Galan travelled from the Sunshine Coast for the Burrandowan Centenary celebration<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

May 10, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n

The races were a washout out but the Burrandowan Race Club is still very happy about its Centenary celebrations on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Months of planning by a dedicated bunch of volunteers had set the stage for a huge day to mark the 1922-2022 anniversary.<\/p>\n

Then the clouds came and the rain started; first a light shower, then heavier …<\/p>\n

Club president Cameron Redman said most of the huge crowd stayed despite the race meeting being abandoned after Race 1 because of water on the track.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Honestly, I was very optimistic all day,” Cameron said. “We had so many campers and most people hung around.<\/p>\n

“The Fashions of the Field was a rousing success.<\/p>\n

“The bar was also huge; the meathouse sold out of meat, and the pizza guy was run off his feet.”<\/p>\n

Cameron said that taking everything into account, the day had been a “big success”, both financially and because the crowd seemed to be having a good time.<\/p>\n

The day started with the now-traditional shotgun shoot, the first time it had been held at the Burrandowan track for three years due to COVID restrictions.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Fashions of the Field were shifted back to the verandah because of the rain, but all categories were hotly contested.<\/p>\n

The special centenary book, “100 Years of Racing At Burrandowan” by local historian Dr Judith Grimes OAM, was officially launched by\u00a0Dr E.M (Ted) Fisher OAM, who was the honorary veterinary surgeon at the Burrandowan Races for more than 60 years.<\/p>\n

Ted, who is 94, told southburnett.com.au<\/strong> he started at Burrandowan in 1953 and only retired three or four years ago.<\/p>\n

And he shared another insight … in all those years he had never seen rain at Burrandowan like Saturday’s downpour!<\/p>\n

There were a few other famous faces at the track, too: former champion jockey Malcolm Johnston and retired rugby league legend Steve Renouf were spotted in the crowd.<\/p>\n

The open firepit barbecues were lit early and also proved popular with the campers.<\/p>\n

Local band Ryza took to the Chahpingah Hall verandah at night and the dancing began …<\/p>\n

Footnote: Anyone who is interested in buying a copy of “100 Years of Racing At Burrandowan” should email the Burrandowan Race Club: burrandowanraces@gmail.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Queensland Resources Council CEO Ian Macfarlane returned to his old South Burnett stomping ground with daughter Karen and wife Laura<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Local historian and author Dr Judith Grimes OAM with a copy of “100 Years Of Racing At Burrandowan” … the book is available as both a hard or soft cover<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Dr Grimes with special guest Dr E.M (Ted) Fisher OAM who officially launched the Centenary history<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Burrandowan race caller (and southburnett.com.au columnist) Ross Stanley was interviewed by ABC Sunshine Coast’s Sacha Hamilton-MacLaren<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
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In another Burrandowan tradition, Eloise Mashford sounded the First Call ahead of Race 1 (sheltered from the rain in the racecaller’s tower)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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Race Club members Tom Hoare and Barry Christie were kept busy selling drinks tickets<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n
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Daniel McCullum, from the Gold Coast, and Emma Clarke, from Brisbane<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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Enjoying a quiet drink at the bar ahead of Race 1 were Gary Marriott, Cooroy; Dave Raymont, Belli Park; and Amanda and Graham Horne, Bracken Ridge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Lions Club volunteers were busy at the barbecue … Leonie Macfarlane, Bernadette Upton and District Q4 incoming Vice-Governor Jackie Scott<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Cr Kathy Duff with the gold watch which she had intended to present to the winning jockey of the Burrandowan Cup on Saturday<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

South Burnett councillor Kathy Duff had a special reason to celebrate the Burrandowan Races centenary.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Her grandparents met at that first Burrandowan Picnic Races in 1922.\u00a0John Patrick Duff entered \u201cThunderclap\u201d in the Ladies Bracelet that year, a race which had a bracelet (actually a gold watch and band) as the prize. The horse had to be nominated in the name of a lady, and he picked Dorothea Ruth Mortimer Evans \u2013 whom he had just met on race day. Thunderclap won, Duff presented the prize watch to Dorothea, and the couple were married four years later on St Patrick\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n

Cr Duff brought along a watch for this year’s winner; she will now present it at the 2023 Burrandowan Cup.<\/p>\n

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Ryza provided the live music on the Chahpingah Hall verandah as night fell (Photo: Cr Kirstie Schumacher)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Rain<\/strong> <\/span><\/h3>\n
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There was a huge crowd at this year’s Burrandowan Races … both before, left, and after the rain started tumbling down, right<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Fashions Of The Field<\/strong> <\/span><\/h3>\n
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Classic Lady winner Sarah Holdsworth, left, and Contemporary Lady winner Rachel McDonell, right, with Cr Kirstie Schumacher\u00a0 (Photo: Cr Kirstie Schumacher)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Fashions of the Field went ahead on the verandah of the old Chahpingah Hall after the races were abandoned.<\/strong><\/p>\n