WANT A CHANGE OF PACE FROM THE CARNIVAL? DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR AND HEAD FOR KILCOY COUNTRY!

By Darren Winningham | Tuesday, June 12, 2018

KILCOY CUP – Saturday 16 June 2018

Well punters one of the best country meetings in Queensland happens next Saturday!

I am referring to the 2018 Kilcoy Cup meeting at the “Moonee Valley of the North”.

This will be WINNO’s third successive Kilcoy Cup and I would not miss it for the world! If you've been there before I know you will be back! If you haven't attended before you really should give it a try.

As usual the day has everything for the punter – the person who just likes to attend the races – families and people who have never experienced true Country racing!

The Kilcoy Club and the Committee bring the “E” into ENTERTAINMENT with their wonderful program to ensure we are all well catered for on the day.

All the action starts around 10.30am when the first harness race is scheduled to take place! You will get great value for money for your $10 entry fee.

The program features three harness races (or pacing) and then three Mini Trot races (this is a special spectacle for all patrons and the children on track) and then seven gallop races!

The feature gallops race is the Keith Beavis Memorial Kilcoy Cup to be run over 1200metres for BM75 horses. The supporting feature race will be the Jack Hughes Memorial a race over 1900 metres for BM58 horses.

The Bruce Duncan Memorial Jockeys Challenge also occurs across the seven-race program and each year the Duncan family supports this meeting and turn up in droves!

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There is an interesting back-story behind these races.

WINNO managed to catch up with Chairman of the Kilcoy Race Club, Mr Con Searle and he told me about the history behind the naming of these prestigious races at the Club.

“Beavis and Bartels were big plumbers in Brisbane and the Kilcoy Club was in dire straits financially," explained Searle. Jack Hughes was the manager of their cattle property at Timms Creek in the Kilcoy district.

”The Club was going to fold, and Jack Hughes approached them to sponsor the Kilcoy Cup to keep the Club going and, amazingly, for the past 37 years they have continued the support of our Club."

This will be the 38th year that this family has sponsored the Kilcoy Cup.

"This would have to be an Australian record for continuous sponsorship of a meeting by a family," Searle said.

“Jack Hughes passed away last year, and the Beavis and Bartels families have requested that a Memorial Race be added to the program each year and that is what has occurred this year."

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“Each year the Duncan family attend this meeting – they come to support the Club and they sponsor the Jockeys Challenge," continued Searle.

Matthew Duncan, who is a jockey’s manager, ensures a large turnout each year of his family who used to live in the area each year.

It is an absolute spectacle each year to see the entire family gather and support the Kilcoy Race Club. Over the past two years I have gained some sensational photos of the family and the winning jockeys. It is an amazing sight to see the family all gather in the parade ring after the last race!

Searle was also proud to tell WINNO about the recent improvements to the Kilcoy Race Club in the recent month.

“We are gradually revamping the Kilcoy Race Club – the first stage is that we have put a new running rail down the outside fence. We are presently planning to convert the existing mounting yard area into a VIP area and the existing area adjacent to the stalls into the new mounting and parade area."

“The Club is now a Tier 1 TAB Country Club and we have been supported by Racing Queensland” stated Searle.

There are exciting times ahead for the Club in the next 12 months.

Regarding the track WINNO posed the question about the condition of the track compared with the other tracks in South East Queensland. Searle set him straight!

“Winno we have a kikuyu track and we have the grass cut six inches long. That way if there is heavy rain the horses do not chop it up and it protects the track. The jockeys and the trainers love it because it cushions on the horse’s hooves.”

Winno asked: Now I believe you use a special fertiliser on the track?

Searle responded with … “we water it regularly and we use Searle’s Lawn Booster. We only fertilise it three time a year and we aerate the track as well."

“Winno I firmly believe that it is now one of the best tracks in Queensland!”

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Other activities at the track include the Kilcoy Cup 2018 Fashions on the Field with prizes totalling $500.

Then you have the famous Kilcoy Club steak sandwiches! If you haven’t experienced one of them you must grab your token and get along to the BBQ early and be sure not to miss out as patron’s hook into these sangas that are always popular!

So is you want a good day out in an oh so pleasant country atmosphere make a note to head to Kilcoy on Saturday 16th June the KILCOY CUP race day.

WINNO, representing horseracingonly.com.au, will be there to greet you all!

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