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Country Spotlight: Border Cup bonus

27 May 2022

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By Jordan Gerrans

Around the southern border of Queensland, a trio of race clubs are working together to lift the profile and standard of stayers in the area.

Spread across the Eastern Downs and Downs racing associations, Goondiwindi, St George and Talwood have struck an agreement to offer a “Border Cup Triple Crown Bonus” for their feature race meetings later this year.

Club officials from the three towns recall a similar bonus being offered many decades ago – which went off at one stage – and they believe the extra $10,000 on offer to connections of stayers will lift the level of gallopers travelling to their meetings.

If a stayer can win the Cup in all three towns across July and August, their team will walk away with a $10,000 bonus, on top of their prize money already claimed in the races.

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Goondiwindi Race Club president Maurie Hayes says their secretary Graeme Scheu deserves all the credit for implementing the new concept.

“As soon as I saw the framework, I thought it was a really good idea for the Western fellas to be able to participate in something like this,” Hayes said.

“I think it is a really good initiative and something that should create some interest while not being overly costly for the clubs.

“The clubs have put in a bit of money.

“Anything extra incentive we can give to these trainers is excellent.”

The president of the Talwood Race Club - Col Mitchell – is hopeful the bonus is live by the time their club races in August.

Talwood is the third leg of the bonus series and Mitchell believes it will create a larger interest in their race day than what they have seen in recent years.

“We thought it would be fantastic as we are the last club of the three to race, so hopefully it sparks a fair bit of interest,” Mitchell said.

“I think it will create interest around the race days as we get closer, it is exciting.

“Hopefully, it is something we can all do into the future and get a bit of buzz about it for the Cup’s.

“Hopefully, it can draw a few better horses to try and win the Cup’s.”

Mitchell has been in the president's role for five years and involved around the club for two decades before that.

In a community like Goondiwindi, Hayes believes it is important for the town to have a strong race club and says the introduction of the new border bonus will only enhance that.

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Goondiwindi Race Club installed a turf track just over a decade ago – replacing their old dirt track surface – which Hayes thinks has been crucial towards ensuring their future.

The turf track allows gallopers from the Toowoomba area to make the trip out when they race, as well as handicappers from south of the border in NSW to also make a visit to the Sunshine State.

Hayes has been around the horses for much of his life and is of the belief the industry is as stable as it ever has been in his border area.

“We really rely on our leading bush trainers to have good meetings,” Hayes said.

“If you compare our acceptances and the level of competitive racing we have now to 10-15 years ago, it is bloody tremendous.

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“We used to really struggle with fields and then lose full races because of the lack of horses.

“It is great now to have the trainers tied into our clubs and show us loyalty.”

With all three club’s within driving distance of each other, all three work closely together to ensure they are able to race, often sharing knowledge and race day equipment.

“It has been a while since the three races have lined up closely like they will this year to be able to do something like this,” Talwood’s Mitchell said.

“As a club we are in the middle and then it is around 100 kms to both other towns, so we work pretty closely with St George as it is, we share the new set of barriers they have over there.

“We try and help each other along, which is good.

“We borrow a bit of gear from the Goondiwindi race track for our races as well, we work together as a community, which is great.

“We all try and support each other’s race days and events.”

Talwood are in the final stages of redeveloping their jockeys rooms, which are expected to be finalised for their 2022 Cup day.

The first leg of the series at Goondiwindi will focus in on their Boggabilla Cup while St George and Talwood have nominated their annual race as the Cup named after their town.

The St George and Talwood Cup’s are both worth $15,000 this year. 

Country spotlight will be a regular feature that shines a light on the unique and individual racing clubs and participants across Queensland.