Charleville set to return to racing

By Jordan Gerrans

The entire town of Charleville is “buzzing" ahead of the return to thoroughbred racing in the regional town this Sunday afternoon.

The Central Warrego Race Club has undergone a full-track rebuild since last hosting a race meeting in August of 2021, and will return with a six event non-TAB program this Sunday afternoon.

According to Central Warrego Race Club President Vivian Jones, the community around the area is looking forward to getting back to their local race track.

“There is a big buzz in the community and trainers are looking at having extra horses now on the back of the track being back,” Jones said.

“Everybody is talking about it, it is simple as that.

“It is a real boost for the local community to have their races back, which is a big event for all people around the town and neighbouring areas.”

The rebuild at Charleville addressed the stability of the sub-grade and aging drainage, and included installation of irrigation and new running rails, providing a long-term, low maintenance solution for the club.

Jockey Luke Miller galloped a few horses and conducted a jump-out on the track in front of QRIC stewards and Racing Queensland staff late last month to give the new sand track its tick of approval.

Miller lives in Miles but will often head over to Charleville to help trainers in the area work their horses.

The 31-year-old believes the Charleville track has improved since that first inspection by racing administrators and thinks it will race well on Sunday.

“The track was heavy on that day when we did those gallops but in the weeks since, the club has done a brilliant job to make it not so heavy,” Miller said.

“The track now is reasonable and I would say it is much like Roma but a bit more consistent.

“The club have done extremely well with the base of the track, it is one of the better bases I have felt before.

“With the rails, chutes and irrigation they have put in, the track itself it is very beautiful to ride on.

“I do not think there will be too much kick-back as well.”

After taking on feedback from Miller and local trainers, Jones expects the surface to only get better with more racing.

Following Sunday, the club is set to race two more times before the end of 2023.

“The track has come up nice,” Jones said.

“It was a touch heavy early on but we have modified a few things on it and I think they will run some handy times on Sunday.

“As it gets older, the times will be even faster again.”

Charleville was originally set to return on Saturday but opted to shift to a Sunday fixture so they did not clash with Jundah, who hold their only meeting for the year on the day.

The six races have attracted strong nominations, with 59 horses entered when they were released on Tuesday morning,

“It is a consistent even surface from the rail all the way to the outside, as I have run over the whole track over the different lanes,” Miller said.

“They have done a brilliant job.

“It will be a bit trial and error before the track comes up perfect but I think it is on the way with where it is now.”