With the borders now open, a huge crowd turned up at Gunsynd Park for the 2022 Goondiwindi Macintyre Picnics at Gunsynd Park on Saturday.
No less than 3,750 patrons had a great day and certainly played well into the night.
The Goondiwindi Club welcomed back leading NSW country trainer Peter Sinclair, who supported the meeting with three starters – winning two races including the feature Picnic Cup, just as he did two years ago.
Racing commenced with the Hayes Spraying Class 1 over 1000 metres where the Roma-trained As Good as Ready - ridden by promising apprentice Liv O’Donnell - was too good after being sensationally backed from $3.25 into even money.
Bill of Rights looked home but a great rails-hugging ride saw As Good As Ready finish strongly with local chance, Camarillo back in third place.
The Doyle Wilson Maiden over 1000 metres was next and another rail-hugging ride by Shannon Apthorpe saw No Choices claim local hope Zaragigi on the line with Grinziger Hope back in third.
The Ambrose Haulage BM55 saw the crowd erupt when local hero Fitzroy Boy saluted on his home track.
Young apprentice Sariah Champkin jumped him straight to the front and that was the end of the story - nothing was going to catch him and although Write On tried hard, he was no match for Fitzroy Boy.
The Kenway & Clarke /Brown & Hurley Cup over 1200 metres was next on the card, and Peter Sinclair was keen to reopen his account at Gunsynd Park.
That he did when Maslow proved too good for the field. Vertical gave a glimmer of hope but Maslow held onto his length lead and won well.
Toowoomba jockey Nathan Fazackerley picked up all the Sinclair mounts and finished with a very good day with two winners and a second.
The last was the B & W Rural Class B over 1400 meters and once again, Sinclair was to the fore with Jonesy who was backing up from a Gunnedah TAB raceday, proving too strong for Coffee Coming who got home strong.
Another very successful Picnic Raceday is in the books, and the committee can now sit back and wait until April next year when they will do it all again.