It was a big day for country racing on Saturday as thousands came to enjoy the incredible atmosphere of the Charters Towers Amateur Cup Race Day.
Friends and family enjoyed their time together having a laugh and glass of bubbly over the course of the five race program on a glorious spring day.
The action on the track didn’t disappoint with some highly competitive racing taking place.
It was a great day for jockey’s Peter Cullen and Jeffrey Felix who rode two winners each.
Cullen was victorious on Concert Image in the Coleman’s Stockfeeds Maiden Plate and doubled down in the Hammer & Co Earthmoving QTIS Class 3 Plate on Choi Oi one race later.
Felix was first past the winning post on Ultra Red in the Enterprise Hotel Bundy Rum BenchMark 55 Handicap, and followed that up with a magnificent ride on Cracow in the Charters Towers Amateur Cup BenchMark 70 Handicap to the delight of owners Robert and Sally Kirkwood, Shaun Flanagan and Mary Paine.
Cracow; the six year old bay gelding by Casino Prince from Goldlago won by three and a half lengths over Shryn Gabriel-Royes’s Smooth General with John Manzelmann’s Serene Pearl and Shikra rounding out the first four.
Racing aficionados were given a special treat with Malcolm “Miracle” Johnston coming to the Towers to take in the thrilling race action.
One of the most popular jockeys of any era, Johnston and Kingston Town were unstoppable between 1979-1982, winning the Cox Plate among many other glittering victories.
Johnston won three Sydney apprentice premierships before winning the senior jockeys title (still as an apprentice) with a massive 107.5 wins.
He also went on the win three Sydney premierships, one in the twilight of his career when no one expected him to, which won the hearts and imaginations of the Australian racing public.
Johnston said he was highly impressed with the competitiveness shown on the track and the great crowd support shown for country racing.
“It’s been a great day of racing, congratulations to everyone associated with the meeting, you should all be very proud of what you’ve accomplished.
The fashions on the Field judges had their work cut out for them when it came to deciding on winners of the various categories,with some outstanding designs put on display.
The Milenary category was won by Megan Lucas, Charters Towers; the Mens Racewear gong went to Ace Remfrey, Charters Towers, while the Womens Racewear section was won by Tania Douglas, Charters Towers.
Towers local Ashlee Kean was victorious in the Fabulous Philly section, and fellow locals Rowan Lowe and Jodie Read won for Best Dressed Couple.
Some savvy youngsters were also highlighted with Charters Towers’ Grace Scholes named the Little Miss u-16 winner with Towers lad Kaed Alloway winning the Little Mister u-16 section, and little Bonnie Campbell, Majors Creek, was the toast of the judging tent after she won the Funky Foal u-5 section.