By Jordan Gerrans
The “teal” six weeks are Queensland driver Chloe Butler’s favourite time of the year and she was proud to be able to end Team Teal 2023 in style on Saturday evening.
After being one of the leading reinswomen during the campaign this year, the 19-year-old Butler stormed to victory in the Team Teal Cup on Saturday night behind the Shane Graham-trained Red Trix.
The annual Team Teal Cup carried extra significance this year, with the race also honouring the late Jenny Stone.
The respected Stone was the face of the annual Team Teal campaign in 2022 in Queensland after bravely detailing her battle with ovarian cancer.
After being heavily involved in the campaign for the last few years, Stone sadly passed away before the start of the 2023 Team Teal period.
The formerly Redcliffe-based Stone was first informed of ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2015.
Butler – who has been a Team Teal ambassador in previous years – recognised the importance of Saturday evening’s victory.
“I am glad to win a race named after Jenny and happy to get the job done,” Butler said.
The annual Team Teal campaign consists of six weeks of fund-raising initiatives across the Queensland harness racing industry to help aid ovarian and other gynaecological cancer research.
From February 1 to March 15 every year, the Queensland harness racing industry unites to raise funds, with $200 donated every occasion a Queensland reinswoman drives a winner in the Sunshine State.
The female drivers in Queensland were on song over the six weeks and lifted the bar from their tally just 12 months ago.
Butler and Narissa McMullen led the way for the ladies with 16 victories each over the period while Narissa’s younger sister Taleah also went past double figures, driving home 10 of her own.
It was an even spread over the six weeks as 12 individual reinswomen added to the tally.
“We are proud to raise $15,400 for the cause, which is an increase again from 2022, where $13,600 was able to be raised,” Racing Queensland's Senior Harness Racing Manager David Brick said.
“It is fantastic to see the industry’s willingness to fundraise and support such an important cause; it is extremely heartening and demonstrates everything that is great about our industry.
"It was great to also see so many female drivers contribute to the tally, with 12 all up driving winners in the period, as Chloe and Narissa led the way with 16 each."