By Tony McMahon
The proactive Gladstone Turf Club is gearing up for what promises to be its biggest meeting for the year when the annual Cox Pate race day is celebrated at Ferguson Park racecourse this Saturday.
Gladstone Turf Club president David Weinert said “walk-in entry tickets” were still available for purchase online but already the multitude of marquees and tables were booked out.
“The Cox Plate Day is always the biggest celebration of racing at Ferguson Park," Weinert said.
"We are pumped up and looking forward to celebrating a wonderful day of racing with our patrons.
"As well we would have to be happy with the nominations today for the five race local card considering the cluster of racing that is on the calendar at this time of year.
"Yes, happy with it all."
Weinert's assessment is certainly backed-up by the fact that 43 horses have been entered for the Ferguson Park program.
Horses are heading to Gladstone to compete from “near and far”.
In the “near” centres Rockhampton, Thangool ad Bundaberg are represented as well of course as local Gladstone-trained starters from the stables of Lee Kiernan, Denis Schultz, Phillip Pengelly and Adam Briskey.
From “a far” Mackay’s John Manzelmann and Tracey Simmons (443km); Barcaldine’s Bevan Johnson (678km); Emerald’s Raymond Williams and Glenda Bell (369km); Jandowae’s Caitlin Johnston (428km); Bluff’s Bill Trimble (274km); Roma’s Cheryl Rogers (485km); Kingaroy’s Barry Phillips (383km) and Chinchilla’s Leonard Mawn (495km) have nominated horses.
“It goes without saying of course that we (Gladstone Turf Club) are very grateful for the support that our meetings attract from the owners, trainers and jockeys who travel from so many distant centres to race here," Weinert said.
The likely clash of Johnson’s prolific winner Han Dynasty, Johnstone’s Sheezasinga and Kiernan’s Krispy Kev will be a highlight in the Open Handicap over 850 metres.
Han Dynasty has won twice from three Gladstone starts and is a short course specialist with such wins at Moranbah, Mt Isa, Bundaberg as well as one apiece at Springsure and Cunnamulla.
Between them the trio have won 27 short course sprints.
A crowd in excess of 2,000 race goers is expected on Saturday at Ferguson Park.
Apart from the races and the sizeable bookmakers’ ring operating to service punters on the interstate, Brisbane, Cox Plate and local races, another attraction will be the Fashions on the Field.