{"id":372025,"date":"2026-05-13T20:18:24","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T10:18:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=372025"},"modified":"2026-05-13T20:25:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T10:25:16","slug":"big-day-of-racing-at-burrandowan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2026\/05\/13\/big-day-of-racing-at-burrandowan\/","title":{"rendered":"Big Day Of Racing At Burrandowan"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Winners are grinners! Katie Atkinson, from Kingaroy, was celebrating her birthday and a win at Saturday’s Burrandowan Races<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

May 13, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of the biggest crowds seen in years enjoyed a huge day and night on Saturday at the Burrandowan Picnic Races.<\/p>\n

Visitors started rolling into the camping ground on Thursday for the annual event, and the crowds kept on building as the weekend approached.<\/p>\n

Out on the track, the racing was keen with very close finishes in the first three events.<\/p>\n

Two legends of South Burnett racing who died in 2025 – Tom Moloney and Brian Lenihan – were remembered with memorial races named in their honour.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tom was a former jockey and trainer, and a Life Member of the Burrandowan Picnic Race Club; while former Kumbia Race Club president Brian was also heavily involved with Burrandowan over the years.<\/p>\n

Toowoomba trainer Vic Heading took home the Burrandowan Cup with his seven-year-old gelding Flying Rothe, while winning jockey Reece O’Connell was presented with the now-traditional silver bracelet by South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff.<\/p>\n

It was also a big day for jockey Jess Emmerson who brought home three winners.<\/p>\n

The Fashions Of The Field judging – squeezed in between Races 3 and 4\u00a0 – was also hotly contested (see below).<\/p>\n

As soon as correct weight was called on the last race, the pit barbecues fired up followed by live music until late with Wal Neilsen.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Jockey Jess Emmerson, who booted home three winners on the day, with her proud parents Graham and Deb Emmerson, from Thornton<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Kingaroy friends Cloe, Christie, Lara, Alisha and Rachella were enjoying a day at the races<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Pat and Alan Eagleson were being kept busy at their Mon-Dee Coffee 2 Go van<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Kingaroy Lions Club volunteers were enjoying a quick lunch break after working at their stall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Ray White, from Quinalow; Jim Tanner, Helidon; Dan Moloney, Durong; and Rob Creagh, Boondooma<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Rozen Mijares, from Brisbane, with Annie Lewis, from Kingaroy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Letitia Ruwoldt, from Crows Nest; Tom Eggerling, Wondai; and Angela Ozog, Toowoomba<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Abby Burrows, Santasia Moggs and Amity Campbell, from Kingaroy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The Mobile Police Van was at Burrandowan … Senior Constable Nick Beacroft, Senior Sergeant Scott Prendergast and Detective Sergeant Troy Whittle with Aleisha Roberts, from Wondai<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Burrandowan Races is always a big day for South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff, whose grandparents met at the first running of Burrandowan in 1922 … John Patrick Duff\u2019s horse \u201cThunderclap\u201d won the Ladies Bracelet that year and Mayor Duff now presents a silver bracelet every year to the winning jockey of the Burrandowan Cup<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Jason Fleischfresser, from Brisbane, with Jen Lonsdale, from Kingaroy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Cr Deb Dennien with Glenda Richardson, from Kingaroy, and Zac Dennien<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Breanna and Gaye Chapman, from Narangba, with Julie Honeyman, Geebung<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Members of the Moloney family gathered after Race 5, the Burrandowan Cup, which was run in memory of the family’s patriarch, Tom Moloney, who died last year … Tom was a much-loved former jockey, trainer and a Life Member of the Burrandowan Picnic Race Club \u00a0(Photo: Kathy Duff)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
One of the biggest crowds seen at Burrandowan in recent years turned out on Saturday for the annual picnic races<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

Fashions Of The Field<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Burrandowan’s fashions competitions are legendary and always attract lots of entries as well as a big crowd of onlookers.<\/strong><\/p>\n

They are judged during an extended break between Race 3 and Race 4.<\/p>\n

The Millinery and Lady of the Day awards are judged from the female entries in the other categories.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Best Dressed Couple … Lee-Anne and Rob McDonald, from Dalby<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
LEFT: Best Dressed Gentleman … John Chamley, Caloundra RIGHT: Lady of the Day … Toni-Ann Barnett, Caloundra<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Best Dressed Contemporary Lady … runner-up Caylen Tunstall, from Kingaroy, with winner Julia Thomas, Toowoomba<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Best Dressed Classic Lady … winner Aleisha Roberts, from Wondai, with runner-up Verelle O\u2019Shanesy, Jandowae<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Best Millinery … runner-up Avril Gibbon, from Greenbank, with winner Jan Bulman, Warwick<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
They’re all winners … all the entrants in the children’s category of the Fashions of the Field competition received vouchers for an ice cream or a drink<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
There is always a very large crowd gathered to watch the Fashions of the Field competitions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

Race Results<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Outdoor Cat (with Shakira Bailey aboard) on the rails and eventual winner Extra Hands (Jess Emmerson) battle it out towards the line in Race 1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Another close finish … Above The World (Jess Emmerson) just edges out Xuanfeng (Paul Hamblin) in Race 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Race 1 \u2013 Seilers Transport \/ Jim’s Jerky \/ Project Water QTIS Class B Handicap (1050m)
\n<\/strong>1. Extra Hands (7)\u00a0 \u2013 Jess Emmerson
\n2. Outdoor Cat (6) \u2013 Shakira Bailey
\n3. Wally’s Boy (4) \u2013 Amelia Heinrich
\nTime:\u00a0 1:01.44
\nMargins: Long head x 1 1\/2 lengths<\/p>\n

Race 2 \u2013 Combined Business Houses Of The South Burnett \/ Tanner Farming Benchmark 55 Handicap (1050m)
\n<\/strong>1. Above The World (15) \u2013 Jess Emmerson
\n2. Xuanfeng (6) \u2013 Paul Hamblin
\n3. Hit (8) \u2013 Violet Soulsby
\nTime: 1:01.15
\nMargins: Head x 1 3\/4 lengths<\/p>\n

Race 3 \u2013 RES \/ Brian Lenihan Memorial Maiden Plate (1175m)
\n<\/strong>1. Elegant Lucy (11) \u2013 Isabel Jessop
\n2. Samurai Wand (1) \u2013 Paul Randall
\n3. The Hindustan (3) \u2013 Courtney Ferris
\nTime: 1:10.85
\nMargins:\u00a01 length x 2 1\/4 lengths<\/p>\n

Race 4 \u2013 Kewpie Stockfeeds Benchmark 65 Handicap (1175m)
\n<\/strong>1. Milton Road (2) \u2013 Jess Emmerson
\n2. Desert Star (13) \u2013 Violet Soulsby
\n3. Start Strutting (11) \u2013 Amelia Heinrich
\nTime: 1:09.86
\nMargins: 2 1\/4 lengths x short neck<\/p>\n

Race 5 \u2013 Kellco Livestock Agents \/ Patron’s Trophy \/ Tom Moloney Memorial Burrandowan Cup Benchmark 55 Handicap (1740m)
\n<\/strong>1. Flying Rothe (7) \u2013 Reece O’Connell
\n2. Alfa Dundee (5) \u2013 Paul Hamblin
\n3. Bugden (4) \u2013 Isabel Jessop
\nTime: 1:48.92
\nMargins: 2 1\/4 lengths x half neck<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Burrandowan Picnic Race Club president Cameron Redman, left, with trainer Geoff Schrader, jockey Jess Emmerson and the connections of Race 1 winner Extra Hands and race sponsors<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Elegant Lucy (Isabel Jessop) leads the field home in Race 3<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Jess Emmerson’s third winner on the day was aboard the grey gelding, Milton Road, in Race 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Jockey Reece O’Connell brings Flying Rothe home for an easy win in Race 5, the Burrandowan Cup<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
An annual tradition … South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff presented her special handmade silver bracelet to Reece O’Connell, the winning jockey in the Burrandowan Cup<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the biggest crowds seen in years enjoyed a huge day and night on Saturday at the Burrandowan Picnic Races.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":372120,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1901,3,58,6],"tags":[104,1136],"yoast_head":"\nBig Day Of Racing At Burrandowan - southburnett.com.au<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"One of the biggest crowds seen in years enjoyed a huge day and night on Saturday at the Burrandowan Picnic Races.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2026\/05\/13\/big-day-of-racing-at-burrandowan\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Big Day Of Racing At Burrandowan - southburnett.com.au\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"One of the biggest crowds seen in years enjoyed a huge day and night on Saturday at the Burrandowan Picnic Races.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2026\/05\/13\/big-day-of-racing-at-burrandowan\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"southburnett.com.au\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-13T10:18:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-05-13T10:25:16+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/20260509burrandowan1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"740\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"460\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Anne Miller\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Anne Miller\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2026\/05\/13\/big-day-of-racing-at-burrandowan\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2026\/05\/13\/big-day-of-racing-at-burrandowan\/\",\"name\":\"Big Day Of Racing At Burrandowan - 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