By Tony McMahon
The luck of the Irish smiled on Springsure’s St Patrick’s Day Race Club last Saturday when a vibrant crowd of more than 1,000 attended.
Club president Terry Hoare and his voluntary team of helpers were joyous with the turnout for what was the club’s 69th annual race meeting.
“All the hard work and effort was worth it when you see the results and the happy smiling faces on course," Hoare said.
"It has been a rough couple of years for country people and this day really showed the buoyant community spirit from people in Springsure and around the district.”
Beaming the biggest smile was talented young comeback jockey Nicky Seymour who landed a winning double.
These Nicky shared with Emerald matriarch trainer Glenda Bell through Jack O’diamonds (Maiden Plate) and Kareno (BM55).
Jack O’diamonds is raced by Capricorn Coast’s Bill and Di Ouston who have shares in 60 horses Australia-wide but are very loyal to Capricornia racing.
Di was just recently appointed as CQ delegate to the Queensland Thoroughbred Owners Association.
Moranbah-based travelling trainer Bevan Johnson teamed with Rocky jockey Chris McIver to win the $11,000 Kevin Woolcock Memorial Bracelet Open (1100m) with Sidetrip.
Earlier last Saturday afternoon, the Johnson-trained Scenic Sight had won at Longreach.
Popular Roma trainer-jockey Cheryl Rogers won dual percentages winning on Avision in the BM50 (1100m).
Fellow Roma trainer and former jockey Jessikah-Lee Brand provided upset winner Plenty Of Ticker in the BM45 (900m).
Plenty Of Ticker was ridden tactically in the lead by former NT jockey Luke Miller.
Later during the program, Miller was taken to hospital after being dislodged in the enclosure but he was released an cleared to ride at his home track meeting at Chinchilla on Monday.
