Picture: Supplied.
RJC Report with Ian Mill
Great to be back with you readers and plenty of news to get through with you this week.
Firstly as a courtesy to you all I wish to confirm with you that I have tendered my resignation as CEO with the Rockhampton Jockey Club.
I took up the role with the RJC in June 2021 and advised the chairman Rob Carr and committee at that time that I would remain in the role for at least 18 months to achieve certain goals. These I believe I have done and I feel comfortable that I have stayed with the club for an extended period of more than was first envisaged.
As well I have set no set date to terminate the CEO role as I wish to steer the club through a successful Winter Racing Carnival as well as assist the new CEO in his opening stanza with the RJC.
The RJC has advertised extensively for a new CEO and some information on that position is posted on the RJC Facebook and Website pages.
One of my passions is horse racing, so to say that I have enjoyed my time at Callaghan Park is somewhat of an understatement.
I must admit to readers that the last couple of years have flashed by, however along with Chairman Rob Carr and his committee and our management team, we have achieved the many goals set for my agreed term as CEO.
Actually, I prefer the term of retiring rather than resigning from the RJC position as that is what I am most looking forward to, being retired, and spending more time with my family and grandchildren.
The family is spread from Rockhampton to the south east-corner of Queensland and beyond.
Well readers that’s sufficient about me, let’s talk racing.
As I have been saying in recent columns the Rockhampton Winter Racing Carnival is upon us.
And the dates are as follows.
Suffice to say the unofficial launch of the Winter Carnival is on Saturday, June 17.
This is always a very popular race meeting being the Girls Grammar Race Day.
It is all the more special in 2023 as it is the 21st anniversary race meeting for the Girl’s Grammar.
The organisers are promoting it along the lines of a “Vintage Theme”.
They have asked to celebrate their Roaring Twenties to dress in winter day race fashion inspired by the early 20th century.
A number of hospitality packages have been arranged.
The first such is at the Party-pavilion.
This encompasses The Betting Ring priced at $75 a ticket with a pop-up taco bar with After Party entry from 4pm.
Next choice is the Mid-tier.
This is ticketed at $165 per ticket with Canapes and mid-tier beverage packages as well as After Party entry from 4pm.
Naturally, the third choice to consider is categorised as the Top-Tier.
$2500 is the cost for a table of 10 and will include a three course meal and premium beverage package and of course entry to the After Party.
All ticket holders can enter Fashions on the Field to be held at 2.30pm with magnificent prizes to be won.
The highly popular local duo “Mother Love” will be providing the music for the After Party.
Tickets – where do you get them?
That’s easy, go on to the RJC Facebook Page or The Rockhampton Grammar Race Day Facebook.
There you will see all the information you require readers.
Moving on as we do that week from Saturday, June 17 will be the first of three big meetings at Callaghan Park and by that, I mean race meetings of course.
Friday, June 23 heralds to what in the past was known as the Tattersalls Race Club Sprint Race Day.
The Tatts Race Club folded some years ago but the tradition lives on and has been maintained by the Rockhampton Jockey Club.
The $35,000 Tattersall’s Open Sprint (1200m) will be a mighty race of interest that day.
That is because the winner of the Tatts Sprint will be exempt if nominated from the ballot for the $100,000 Rockhampton Newmarket Handicap (1300m) run on Friday, July 7.
With the passing of time the Tatts Sprint shall we say has been upsurged on its traditional day by the running of the $105,000 Northern Jewel QTIS 3YO Handicap (1400m).
To be explicit, the races on June 23 is now known as the Northern Jewel Race Day.
Two days later on Sunday, June 25, Callaghan Park will be the venue for the $35,000 Tattersalls Gold Cup (1600m).
This time-honoured race won by some top horses over many years is the forerunner to the $150,000 Rockhampton Cup (1600m) on Saturday, July 8.
Not surprisingly as has always been the case the winner of the Tattersalls Cup on Sunday, June 25 will also be exempt from the ballot if nominated for the Rockhampton Cup some 13 days later.
So, readers, they are the meetings for the 2023 Rockhampton Winter Racing Carnival.
Let’s press on, shall we?
As I mentioned the Rockhampton Newmarket and the Rockhampton Cup will be run on consecutive race days at Callaghan Park.
These are the TAB meetings on Friday, July 7 and Saturday, July 8.
Over the two days some $929,000 in prize money is there to be won.
I believe I am correct in saying that Rockhampton Cup Day on Saturday, July 8 will be the richest race day in the history of the Rockhampton Jockey Club.
On that day the RJC will distribute $542,000 in purses which includes some bonuses if they are won.
We at the RJC are expecting a big influx of visiting horses from throughout Queensland and hopefully from further south in other States as well.
Of course, tickets are now on sale for what we term and I believe correctly so the “sensational” Rockhampton Cup Carnival.
Wait for these readers.
The Rocky Cup Calcutta Luncheon on Thursday, July 6 at 12pm will have special guests Alan Jones and Vince Sorrenti appearing.
On Rockhampton Cup Day we will host the Rocky Cup Chairman’s Luncheon from 12pm in The Members Lounge.
The Precinct at Rocky Cup commences at noon on Saturday, July 8 in The Amateurs Lounge,
As that famous TV ad went “wait there is more”,
The Paddock at Rocky Cup from 12pm in The Betting Ring.
The Rockhampton Special School Cup Day Marquee runs also from 12pm on the day.
Full details on all these entertainment packages are available on the RJC Callaghan Park Facebook and Website pages.
Also, you can pre-purchase general admission tickets to the Rockhampton Cup on Saturday, July 8 and these entertainment packages by purchasing (admission tickets) online you will save dollars.
Look readers there is probably a lot, lot more but I will keep you posted in the columns over the coming weeks.
Good to see our locally based Callaghan Park stakeholders keeping up to the mark with winners around the place.
Last Saturday out at Emerald races the Callaghan Park trainer Dale Whyte flew the flag for the locals winning the Emerald Cup (1615m) with Starsonic for Rockhampton apprentice Brooke Johnson.
Our two new jockeys in town, the New Zealander Warwick Satherley and the Frenchman Damien Boulet also rode winners.
Warwick won on the local Emerald trainer Glenda Bell’s Our Stormy Girl after his first winner back from a long spell two days before at Callaghan Park.
Warwick has been riding a colossal amount of trackwork for months at Callaghan Park and his partner Joanna Anderson is part of the RJC management team in our racecourse offices.
Damien Boulet renewed an old association with Roma trainer Joe Halpin through his win on Package at Emerald.
May I say well done both Warwick and Damien and as the racing terminology goes “many winners”.
It would be very remiss of me not to also congratulate for want of a better term Rockhampton “veteran” trainers Bill Weeks and Pat Dillon for their winning achievements at Callaghan Park races last Thursday week.
Pat scored a winning double with his only two horses in training Gilbert’s Gold and Hyperion Star.
I read in an article compiled by Tony McMahon on the RJC Facebook Page that it was Pat’s first winner for over 40 years.
Tony went on to tell that it was also Pat’s first winning training double.
Hat’s off to Pat.
Bill Weeks is a champion of the training cause as well as at 75 years of age he is one of the real early birds at the Callaghan Park training tracks each morning.
Bill won on the same card with Lingjun Topgun which was also very good to see.
Heartiest congratulation from the committee and crew at the RJC to both gentlemen of the turf.
Can’t recall I have used that term before “gentlemen of the turf” but it is well placed in that role regarding Pat and Bill.
As usual readers there is a swag of Rockhampton horses racing at the TAB races at Mackay today (Saturday, May 27).
The irony is there are as many Rockhampton horses running at Mackay as the date numerals of 27.
As I keep telling you readers the Callaghan Park horses have an amazing winning strike rate at Mackay.
At the last meeting there Rockhampton trainers won the entire race program.
So that’s a good system, all you have to do is find the right ones to punt.
Good luck -Yours in Racing Ian Mill.