By Darren Cartwright
With a family steeped in racing history, it seemed a natural progression for jockey Amy Owens to become president of Tower Hill Picnic Amateur Race Club.
Her connections to the central Queensland track branch back generations.
Amy’s father and grandfather both rode at Tower Hill and her in-laws have held various roles on the committee.
“My family, and my husband’s family, have been involved with Tower Hill for decades,” she said.
“My mum and dad have been on the committee for a long time and my husband’s (David) parents have been president, secretary, and treasurer and have given a lot to the club.
“David’s father, Phillip, rode there for many years as well … so it’s in our blood.”
Even Amy (pictured, with her husband David and their daughter Ali), has saluted the judge nine times at Tower Hill, although the mum of two has only recently hung up her saddle, having simultaneously, for several years, been both race day jockey and president.
She has now been at the helm for five seasons and has been behind the resurgence of the outback club which had to be revitalised following years of drought.
“The new committee did revitalise it, but the previous committee had to put in some hard yards with a skeleton crew during tough times,” she said.
At just 28 years-of-age, she was elected to the post with a strong and dedicated committee of more than a dozen volunteers behind her.
“We didn’t race for about four or five years because of the drought, and it was hard to find volunteers and people to be on the committee, but we got it up and running in 2017,” Amy said.
“There was a fair bit to do after five years, but we got together a few of young people in town and got it re-established.”
Amy Owens on her way to victory at Tower Hill racecourse.
Besides the committee and volunteers dedicating plenty of TLC over the past five years, including mending structures, painting fixtures and maintaining gardens, new amenities were constructed.
An all-in-one new jockey, secretary and stipendiary stewards building was constructed, and plans were afoot for an outside running rail to be erected.
There was a lot of pride in bringing Tower Hill racecourse, which sits 150km north of Longreach, back to life, not just for herself, but for the committee and the townsfolk, said Amy.
“For those that have been involved with it for a long time, we did not want to see this unique little club shut down,” she said.
According to Racing.com statistics, which do not fully cover Amy’s riding career which spans more than a decade, she had 194 rides for 24 victories and 64 placings.
Her time in saddle succeeds her father and grandfather - both named Robert Macintosh, who were also jockeys back in the day.
“My father and grandfather have both ridden there and been involved with the club for many decades, so the course has been part of our families for generations,” she said.
“And I have ridden here, but this is the first year I haven’t, now that I have a four-month-old and a two-year-old.”
Amy Owens (centre) with her parents Margot and Rob MacIntosh
Her five-year tenure as president will come to an end later this year, but not before the annual two-day meeting which was rescheduled from its annual date in April to the last weekend in August.
And she urges women looking to run for president or chair to embrace the challenge.
“I’m happy to hand it over because it It’s good to have a new person at the reins with new ideas,” she said.
“But I will still definitely be involved with the club.
“It’s definitely satisfying and, as long as you have a good support network behind you, it’s worth having a go.”
Next meeting: Friday, August 26, 2022