Racing AROUND Rocky with Tony McMahon.

You may recall I said in an earlier article, “24 hours in racing is a long time” or to be precise, words to that effect. So true.

On Thursday afternoon after a race was deleted from Tuesday’s RJC program through lack of entries, Racing Queensland and the Australian Trainers Association in collaboration with the Rockhampton Jockey Club  acted swiftly.

They programmed post haste a 2&3YO QTIS Plate (1050m) to fill a void of no races for that age group presently programmed.  This resulted in eight nominations and a full field being declared earlier today (Friday). Three of the acceptors were headed the 8 hours float haul to race over 700km away in a similar class event at Townsville’s TAB races this Sunday.

The field will still remain complete as three emergencies will now get a start there.

The Rocky move is to applauded and is appreciated by trainers and owners not to mention the expense it has saved them.

Tuesday’s race is the last chance the 2-Y-O’s have to start as such before turning three years next Thursday.  The Rocky race is a beauty with a number of very smart youngsters engaged and is likely to be one of the best betting races on the program. Congratulations ATA, RJC and RQ – mutual co-operation for the benefit of the industry is a no-brainer.

There certainly is a glut of racing in this neck of the woods at present. The Mackay Newmarket races today (Friday); Townsville Lightning and Guineas on Sunday; Rocky on Tuesday; Yeppoon next Saturday and Townsville Cup as well.

Long have I said in many ways Rockhampton’s Callaghan Park racecourse is a huge feeder distribution base or training track for outside TAB and Non-TAB meetings. Mackay and other nearby tracks have limited horse numbers to reciprocate. The facts are that 42 Callaghan Park trained horses were among the 122 declared starters for Mackay today.

That’s roughly 33% and at times it is even more. As well 24 horses from Callaghan Park accepted to start in Townsville on Sunday. Then throw in the four that are heading down the highway to start at Bundaberg races on Saturday. That totals 70 Callaghan Park trained horses prepared to race elsewhere over three days. Lot of horses isn’t it?

A lifetime in the racing industry has taught me to admire the courage and resilience of jockeys. Mind you over part of that time span as both a steward (12 years) and racehorse trainer (36) jockeys and I have not always seen eye to eye. That goes with the territory.

However, I will never shy from believing they are the most courageous athletes in the world. These men and women, young and in some cases middle aged, weighing between 50kg to say 57kg ride racehorses with a weight variance from around 400 to 600kg in tightly packed race fields reaching speeds up to 70km per hour. I spent considerable time in stewards towers around racecourses and it was an awakening to hear the horses clipping heels in packed fields. Their (jockeys) “protective “ (for want of a better word) gear are a lightweight upper body vest and a skull cap. Very little but they accept the peril of their profession. Surely they are the only profession in the world that cannot ply their race trade unless an ambulance with paramedics follows them around in a race. Just for a moment close your eyes and absorb those facts.

Yet despite the inherent risks involved, race riding becomes addictive to them and when sidelined through injury they pine to get back out there. In the last few days this has been endorsed by both Les Tilley and Tahlia Fenlon after recent freak accidents not occurring in a race field as such. Both were “champing at the bit” to get back riding when I was in contact with them. I have documented Tahlia’s accident at Ipswich races on Wednesday in detail on this site yesterday.

It’s worth a read. Her mount rolled on top of her, she subsequently was only discharged from Ipswich Hospital at 11.30pm that night  with a certificate for a week off. After driving herself home to Brisbane on Wednesday night, albeit bruised and sore she was intent to get back riding ASAP. Her Brisbane medico on Thursday concurred with her and lone behold she had rides at Mackay today (Friday). That takes guts but above all else an absolute commitment fuelled by a passion to get amongst it again. Sure jockeys are well paid but not enough from where I sit given the risks involved.

I spoke to Les “Bubba” Tilley this morning for an update after he was tossed immediacy when the barriers opened at the very  start of a feature race at Grafton last Sunday. To say Les is “dirty” on himself is  an understatement as he rued the incident that saw his mount, the race favourite Office Jim leave the barriers virtually riderless. “I came out before him” is how Les explained being tossed over the horse and landing on his back.

“I’ve been in and out of hospital all week in Brisbane getting tests. I still don’t really know what the lower pain is caused from. No breaks and appears to be muscular. They can’t tell me when I will be back riding but I want to be next week,” Tilley said.

Such zeal and enthusiasm to resume their jockeying occupations was so contagious that I decided to commit to sharing it with you all. I have said it before and I will say it again, despite at times being a critical grandstand jockey, I salute every one of them. May God ride in the saddle with them and bring them back post race safely.

IN BRIEF: Ricky Vale relates Namazu on target to chase his third successive $150K Townsville Cup win on Saturday week.  … Astapor won’t be the first star Rocky 2/3YO to be transferred to Sydney’s Joe Pride. Lyle Rowe trained prolific Callaghan Park winner Kilwinning Option headed down there in 2011.  ….Good luck to Racing Queensland’s  Rockhampton based Queensland Country Racing Manager, Col Truscott, 64, with his impending retirement commencing in a fortnight. Col commenced with the RJC in 1981 and over the subsequent 43 years has held senior roles including handicapping and management for the RJC, Queensland Principal Club and Racing Queensland. Col has a wealth of racing  knowledge and is a loss to the country and northern Provincial regional clubs as he did have their best interests at heart and at times had tough decisions to make. Good luck Col…Born again young jockey, a much more mature Cody Collis, 20, who earlier was Rockhampton indentured is riding on a high with 12 winners in the last four weeks. Keep on keeping on Cody and hang on to your hat as your future is yours for the making ….  Good luck to my old mate Fab’s Cowboy as he retires from racing under much fanfare at Longreach on Saturday. …Folks don’t forget the RJC’s Sister Club,  the Yeppoon Turf Club race next Saturday at idyllic Keppel Park racecourse. Make your bookings online. See you at Rocky races Tuesday and Yeppoon next Saturday – Happy 😀   Horses 🐎 🐎 Tony McMahon.