Rockhampton Racing Review: Thursday 21 May, 2026

Bill Weeks remembered at Callaghan Park

Jockeys wore black armbands in the third race, The Agency Handicap  (1200m) as a mark of respect for racing industry participant Bill Weeks at Callaghan Park on Thursday.

Bill passed away peacefully, aged 77, on 7 May, and a celebration of his life was held at Callaghan Park for the former trainer and horse’s owner last week. Mr. Grey, a five-year-old gelding raced by Bill and his wife Margaret was a starter in The Agency Handicap.

A power outage almost derailed RJC race day

An Ergon power outage caused by a truck accident on Lakes Creek Road on Thursday almost derailed the Callaghan Park races on Thursday.

After two races were run and won, the power suddenly went off at the track.

It was soon revealed that the road accident took out a fair chunk of the city including parts of the city centre.

After about an hour, the power was restored and the race meeting continued albeit, later than scheduled.

The track raced beautifully. Officially rated a “Good 4”, the race times were okay and races were run truly.

The Kropp family who travelled all the way from Toowoomba to race were delighted that the race meeting continued. They had three winners, and Will Kropp had two of them. Always Delivers ($2.70) won the 1400m Maiden and Scruffy won the  BM 55 Handicap  for Will Kropp and Brandon Lerena, and Will’s dad, Matt’s horse, The Barberofseville ($2.35) won the BM65 Handicap (1600m). Lerena brought up a riding treble on the four-year-old mare Scruffy, winning the race by a neck in a three-way-finish. A Capricornia Yearling Sale graduate, Scruffy started her career late, and has now won three races all at Callaghan Park. So named because of her Scruffy look as a yearling, the mare by Duporth is turning into a bargain buy for the Kropps. “She was a sight as a youngster, covered in mange, and that’s how she got the name,” her owner Katherine Kropp said. “She was never going to race as a 2YO, so we put her in the paddock, and she is surprising us now.”

Sunshine Coast trainer Stuart Kendrick loves starting horses in Rockhampton and Heartoni seems to love running on the Callaghan Park track. Ridden by apprentice Nikki Olzard, Heartoni ($10) won the CS Electrical Open Handicap (1050m). The gelding has had four starts at Callaghan Park for two wins and two second placings. The victory placed Olzard level pegging for first place in the RJC Apprentice Jockey title. Olzard and Stephanie Tierney who usually rides for the Kendrick stable, have both ridden 10 winners.

The William Neil Bualch Memorial race, a BM 65 Handicap was won by the Bundaberg galloper Presocratics. Raced by Pedro Peterson, trained by Gary Clem and ridden by Jason Taylor, Presocratics has now won three of four Rockhampton starts. Darryl Baulch presented Pedro with his winners’ trophy.

Other winners on Thursday were Shemakesmenervous ($1.50) the 1050m Maiden winner for trainer Jamie McConachy and jockey Raul Silvera Olivera;  Humble Hero ($3.70) in the 1300m Class 1 for trainer Darryl Johnston and jockey Natalea Summers, Intrepid Lad trained by Ricky Vale  and ridden by Warwick Satherley won the 0-55 Handicap (1400m).

RJC CEO, David Aldred.