By David Gilbert
THREE cup meetings for the four-legged variety in Mount Gambier in the space of nine days.
It has never occurred before and is hard to believe but it will all happen in early April.
The Mount Gambier Gold Cup for the gallops is next Friday (April 1), followed the next night by the Mount Gambier Pacing Gold Cup, with the Mount Gambier Cup for the greyhounds on Sunday, April 10.
So, all of a sudden we have a big week of social frivolity starting in the middle of next week with the cocktail party for the Mount Gambier Racing Club at The Commodore On The Park on Wednesday, March 30.
Then, just up the road on Thursday night is the calcutta for the Mount Gambier Gold Cup (gallops) at the Gambier Hotel.
Mount Gambier cup day on Friday, April 1 at Glenburnie will be a much smaller version of what this city has become accustomed to over the years.
Tickets, at this stage, are limited to 1,000 patrons, a far cry from the previous normal of around 3,500 people for cup day and a mere memory from the halcyon days when nearly 10,000 people reportedly packed Glenburnie.
Many people are asking why the club did not submit a management plan for 2,000 or even 3,000 people, especially as there were 2,500 at the Kangaroo Island cup meeting last month and nearly 2,000 for Port Lincoln cup day a few weeks ago.
It seems the risk and cost factor in these trying financial times was paramount in the decision.
“A management plan enabling more than 1,000 people to attend would also require a significant number of COVID marshals and other resources and, as a small club with limited staff and volunteers, we unfortunately would not be able to meet the required ratio,” Mount Gambier Racing Club general manager Brett Watson stated.
“Even with a smaller crowd, we hope to see the city gripped with racing fever and embracing the week’s festivities just like the good old days, so come along and enjoy a day trackside with entertainment, local food and wine, fashion and, of course, top quality racing.”
It will be a case of first in and best dressed to get a ticket and they can be purchased online via moshtix.
On cup day, racegoers will be able to have access to the Pirate Life Beer Garden or a fully catered package in the traditional Staf’s Marquee which includes a three-course meal and drinks package.
Those wishing to not drive to the cup can avail themselves of free buses departing from Jens Hotel half an hour prior to the first race.
The buses will then return to Jens Hotel half an hour after the last race.
Race fields for the Mount Gambier cup (gallops and harness racing) will be published in next Friday’s edition of The Border Watch.
CHANGES TO THE CUP ITSELF
FOR the first time in living history, the Mount Gambier cup (gallops) will not be run over the traditional 2400 metres.
In a move to attract a better quality of horse and also increased numbers, the cup will be run over 2050 metres.
The early tip for the cup is Farooq to be ridden by Jacob Opperman.
Originally, the time-honoured Blue Lake Handicap (1550 metres) was going to be deleted from Mount Gambier cup day and moved to another date on the club’s calendar.
“It is back on the program next Friday as Racing SA are keen to have three open-company races (the Volcano, the Blue Lake and the Mount Gambier cup) on the cup-day program,” Mount Gambier Racing Club president Peter George stated.
BIG LOSS FOR LOCAL RACING
LIMESTONE COAST racing will be the poorer following the recent resignation of Penola Racing Club committeeman/life member/track curator Rob Lepley.
For 33 years, Lepley has been part and parcel of the Penola club and is regarded as one of the best and most experienced administrators in the region.
“I did have one year off when I was involved in an official capacity with junior football,” Lepley said.
“I have become disillusioned with the stewards in recent times in regards to instructions as to management and their assessment of the Penola track.
“It was my intention to give it all away at some time in the future but everything has been brought forward.”
The affable Lepley will not be completely lost to local racing as he is still working as a barrier stall attendant on race days.
“I was going to give that away too, but they are short of staff at present due to some having Covid and I will not see them stuck,” he said.
Lepley is a former president of the Penola club as well and was heavily involved with Limestone Coast Thoroughbred Racing.
In my opinion, local racing can ill afford to lose the expertise of R. J. Lepley.
FEMALES DOMINATED THE DAY
RACING at Penola last Friday was dominated by female jockeys who won six of the seven races.
A double to Kayla Crowther has seen her edge past fellow Adelaide jockey Dominic Tourneur at the top of the Limestone Coast premiership ladder, while one winner to Darryl Dodson (Big Sue) has further increased his lead for the trainer’s title.
Two Mount Gambier trainers had success, with Richard Nicholson chalking up his fourth local winner of the season with an all-the-way win by Olatunji ($11-$14) in the BM 68 handicap.
Former Queensland galloper Eagles Forever ($6-$5) won his first local race at start number 12 for the Richard Wilson stable in the 0-54 handicap.
Punters who follow the Phillip Stokes stable when he rarely sends a galloper to race in the Limestone Coast were smiling after Ginger Creek ($3.20-$2.40 fav.) took out the 1400-metre maiden.
Bordertown co-trainers Jimmy and Lisa Dodgson seem to have unearthed a handy middle distance type with Enbarr ($5-$7) who made it successive victories in the 1700-metre BM 68 handicap.
NEW TAB UP AND RUNNING
MOUNT Gambier’s newest TAB at the RSL in Sturt Street was given the blessing of approval last Saturday.
Although the agency had opened a week earlier, it was officially opened on the weekend with around 40 people present.
“The TAB representative who attended was more than impressed with the set up and the turnover on the day,” RSL Bar and Bistro manager Mark Lane said.
“Two more television screens for racing and other sports will be installed in the near future.”
COMING UP
Tonight: Mount Gambier harness racing (first of four races at 7.48pm).
Next Friday, April 1: Mount Gambier gallops (cup day).
