Three rural charities across Queensland will share in $10,000 thanks to the winning connections of the 2019 TAB Country Cups Challenge Final.
As part of Racing Queensland’s 1 for the Bush campaign, the organisation provided the first three place getters from the Final with a share of $10,000 to donate to the charity of their choice with the connections choosing causes close to home in St George, Cloncurry and Barcaldine.
The connections of winner ‘Deadly Choices’, who are based in Mount Isa, donated $5,000 to the Sisters of the North charity in Cloncurry which assists those suffering through drought in North Queensland.
Second placegetter, ‘San Vincenzo’ owned by the Wippell family of St George, may have been beaten by half-a-length but it was a winner for the St George Community Men’s Shed.
During a recent trip to St George, Racing Minister Stirling Hinchliffe presented the President of the Men’s Shed, Keith Codrington, with a cheque for $3,000.
The connections of third place, “French Hussler’ nominated Barcaldine’s Prep-12 State School P&C to receive $2,000.
Racing Queensland CEO, Brendan Parnell said the bush charity donations were going to great local causes.
“This is one way Racing Queensland can make a difference at the local level,” Mr Parnell said.
“I thank the connections for embracing the spirit of the Country Cups Challenge.”
As part of the 1 for the Bush campaign, the Queensland racing industry raised a total of $52,600 for the QCWA’s Public Rural Crisis Fund.
Owner of ‘San Vincenzo’, Graham Wippell, praised the charity donation and the TAB Country Cups Challenge.
“The initiative of the Country Cups Challenge to give the country horses a chance to show what they have got at a Brisbane Race Meeting is a terrific idea, may it continue way into the future,” Mr Wippell said.