Queensland jockeys tie the knot at the track

By Jordan Gerrans

For jockeys Michael Schrapel and Anna Bakos, it made complete sense.

The Queensland riders were searching for a perfect location to tie the knot after becoming engaged in early 2022.

After inspecting a potential place in the Gold Coast Hinterland, bride-to-be Bakos kept coming back to one location where it would be ideal.

The race track.

Schrapel and Bakos live not far from their local track – Ipswich Turf Club – and spend plenty of time there riding work of a morning and of course on race day when the Bundamba-based club hold race meetings.

Schrapel and Bakos were married at the venue earlier this month and to make the occasion even more significant, the bride rode a winner at Ipswich in the days leading into the big occasion.

The horse that delivered Bakos the victory - Darkened Destiny – was part of the proceedings on the wedding day and was involved in the photos after the event as well.

“We went in there and it was perfect for what we wanted,” Bakos said when searching for a wedding location.

“We were only ever going to ever have a small wedding with around 55 guests – it was relatively small.

“We looked at everything the club offered and the services, it ended up working out really well for us.

“The club were absolutely phenomenal with what they gave us, they were awesome.”

In a fitting result, Darkened Destiny broke through for the maiden victory of his career at his 22^nd start on the Thursday afternoon before the Bakos and Schrapel nuptials just a few days later on the Sunday.

It may have just been ‘destiny’.

The 30-year-old Bakos and Darkened Destiny led all the way to score by a tick over two lengths. 

As Bakos details, the son of Spill The Beans has plenty of character about him and the happy couple were glad to see the gelding on his best behaviour during the photos stage of the wedding.

“I ride him in work and he has been a funny horse,” Bakos said.

“He is a quirky horse and a bit special. The last month or so he has relaxed a lot as a horse. For me, I knew what buttons to press and his little quirks and doing it at the right time.

“When we were coming down the straight I thought it was too good to be true and didn’t want the horse to stop. It was all a bit special.”

Renowned racing photographer Roxy Weston – who operates RLR Photography – captured the occasion for Bakos and Schrapel.

“She did an amazing job,” Bakos said.

“She's taken a lot of good pictures of Michael and myself the last few years riding so it was a no brainer to get her on board for the wedding.”

The happy newlywed couple grew up around the industry.

Schrapel’s father – Brian – represented Australia at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games in Equestrian while Bakos’ father has been involved in the harness racing code for decades.

As you would imagine, the couple met through racing.

“Mick and I have been around horses all our lives,” Bakos said.

“We have both got a horse history behind us.

“We met each other through the racing game and knew each other through mutual friends. We got to know each other more and the rest is history.”

The duo frequent Central West meetings for race day opportunities and are regulars at Barcaldine and Longreach, among other tracks.

With the non-TAB racing in the bush slowing down over the Christmas period, Bakos and Schrapel have ridden around South East Queensland in recent weeks.

“We try to ride where the other person is riding so if something happens, then we are right there with each other,” she said.

The newlyweds have not locked in a location for a honeymoon just yet but are considering heading to Tasmania for a ‘working holiday’ at some stage when they can find a gap in their calendar.

Anna will ride under the name 'Anna Bakos-Schrapel' going forward.