By Jordan Gerrans
The Mount Isa Race Club is thinking outside the box when it comes to attracting new people into the sport.
For the second year in a row, the North West Queensland-based club will auction off a horse on the eve of their annual Cup.
The idea was constructed last year in a bid to bring new owners into the industry and following a strong positive response in 2022, the interest has increased again for this year.
The club have purchased Cuban Affair – who previously did his racing for the Anthony and Sam Freedman team in Victoria - to be auctioned at a special function on Friday evening.
The $20,000 Mount Isa Cup for 2023 will then be raced the following day.
Mount Isa Race Club president Jay Morris says the auction developed a buzz in the local community last year and he is eager to see new owners enter the sport again this year.
“We did it last year with a horse and found a few new owners,” Morris said.
“We hope to generate the possibility of new owners into the industry and provide an exciting, successful and enjoyable experience to new or seasoned race horse owners here in the heart of the North West.
“Everyone that attended the evening last year said it was a really good night so we decided to press on and do it again.
“I think we have doubled our tickets from last year, we have about 60 or 70 ready for the event.”
Don’t Despair – a former Brisbane-based galloper - was auctioned by the club last year for $15,500 and won first-up for his new owners at Julia Creek.
The gelding would only have three more starts after running into injury concerns and was retired.
Cuban Affair has won one of his six career race starts and arrived in regional Queensland on Thursday of last week.