THE Burdekin Race Club was packed to the rafters on Saturday at Home Hill during the Burdekin Race Club Growers Race Day.
One committee member estimated that there would have been close to 4500 spectators in attendance on the day which featured a beautiful clear skies and a breeze that created a whirling dervish of hats and fascinators.
On the track it was the John Erichsen trained Aldren ridden by Peter Cullen that prevailed by the barest of margins in the Burdekin Cup Open Handicap over Andrew Cameron’s Bobcat by 0.1L.
As well as winning the Cup, Cullen also won in the third and notched a second and two third place finishes over the course of the day.
Other winners on the day included Errol Covell’s Phoenix Force in the Benchmark 65 Handicap; Joao Campeao tasted victory in the second with Gutz Ci winning in a tight finish; Errol Sewell’s Valley Rose comfortably took out Two-Years-Old Handicap; Aerial Ping Pong from the John Manzelmann stable cruised to victory in the Class 1 Handicap; Starlistic bought home the bacon for Ray Tapiolas in the fifth; and Aaron Payne’s Craiglea Focus won with ease in the Benchmark 55 Handicap.
For the full image gallery from Saturday, click on the photo below.
Race club president Ross Tapiolas said initial fears that there may be a lack of jockeys present due to the race meet being held at Gordonvale the same day were alleviated with most races featuring large fields.
“I was very happy with how the day proceeded, no jockeys or horses were injured, I’m almost certain crowd numbers were up on last year and everyone had a great time,” Mr Tapiolas said.
“I’d like to thank everyone who came to the club on Saturday, as well as all our sponsors and officials,” he said.
