Rockhampton Jockey Club’s Racing Year in Review Part Four (Final): May to July 2024.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to read our Racing Year in Review series. We are sure you will agree it has certainly been a massive year for all industry stakeholders. We look forward to seeing you all at the RJC Racing Industry Gala Evening at Callaghan Park on Saturday 7th September. Tickets are available online at www.callaghanpark.com.au or by calling the RJC office on 4937 4000.

Thanks again to RJC CEO David Aldred who prepared the RJC Year in Review.

May 2024

In a historic event for local racing. Three jockeys Brooke Johnson, Georgina Cartwright, and Tahlia Fenlon became the first all-female winners of a race program on turf at Callaghan Park. It was just the second time in the club’s history that all female riders have won the entire program. The first time this was achieved was on 19 January 2010 when Trinity Bannon, Alisha Taylor, Shayla Evans, and the late Carly-Mae Pye rode all seven winners on the Callaghan Park sand track.

June 2024

The RJC held its inaugural Pink Ribbon Race Day in June at Callaghan Park to support Breast Screen Queensland in raising funds for equipment. The fun-filled afternoon of racing saw Callaghan Park decked out in pink with the jockeys even wearing pink riding pants. The race day raised awareness of breast cancer, the most common cancer affecting women. RJC Life Member, 90-year-old Maureen Olive was thrilled to win a $3,000.00 Pink Diamond at Pink Ribbon Race Day. The diamond sponsored by Phil Peel Jewellers – Rockhampton was a sought-after prize. Members and guests were asked to donate $5.00 for a pink ribbon to support Breast Screen Rockhampton to be eligible for the prize.

Jockey Sean Cormack was at the top of his game at Callaghan Park to win the highly contested Tattersall’s Sprint (1200m) aboard the Jared Wehlow-trained Letmeletgo and the Stuart Kenrick-trained Under The Cap took out the feature Tattersall’s Cup (1600m) with apprentice jockey Cody Collis having the winning ride.

July 2024

The month heralded Rocky Cup Carnival time and the excitement was high with two of Rocky’s finest gallopers, millionaire performers Master Jamie and Namazu chasing never before achieved results. The Graeme Green-trained Master Jamie (Les Tilley) was out to win a third consecutive Rockhampton Cup while trainer Ricky Vale was eyeing off The Archer / Rockhampton Cup double with Namazu (Ash Butler). A huge cheer went up when the veteran Master Jamie charged to the front, momentarily having a third Cup in his sights. But Tasmania-trained Hype came with a wet sail from last position on the home turn to race clear over the final stages. Hype, trained by Aiden Nunn and ridden by South Australian-based Teagan Voorham defeated Master Jamie and Tatts Cup winner Under The Cap. It was the first time a Tasmania-trained horse has won the Cup, Teegan Voorham also became just the second female to ride a Rockhampton Cup winner. Ricky Vale had a consolation win with Parade Ground taking out the Magic Millions Capricorn Guineas and leading trainer Clinton Taylor took out the $25,000 Trainer Bonus for the most victories during the two-day Carnival. Taylor’s star was the Rockhampton Newmarket winner Honkytonk Diva, ridden by Justin Stanley. The 4yo ran the race of its life to defeat Sir Warwick and Bonaparte.

The RJC undertook several improvements in July, including an operational upgrade to the big-screen TV on the track and the installation of new candy pole race distance markers to mark the 600m, 400m, 200m, and 100m sections of the track in the home straight.

The racing year finished on a high with an industry study revealing that racing in Central Queensland doubled its size and worth over a decade.

According to a Racing Queensland survey undertaken by IER the 12 thoroughbred clubs including the CQ hub, Rockhampton’s Callaghan Park racing and training centre generated the bulk of $68.8 million in value-added contribution to the local economy in 2022-23. The figure represented a massive 92% increase since the previous study eight years ago. Statistics revealed that CQ’s racing has over 3,000 participants and supports over 510 full-time jobs in the region, an increase of 72% since the 2015-16 season.