Evans makes winning proposal at Springsure

By Jordan Gerrans

The history books from the Springsure meeting in late August of 2026 will detail that jockey Darren Evans walked away from the meeting with one victory.

But, Evans himself believes he actually collected two winners at the track on Saturday afternoon.

The 45-year-old jockey rode Prince Carlos to victory for Roma trainer Cheryl Rogers in the fourth event and shortly afterwards, he took a leap of faith.

On the racetrack in front of the entire Springsure crowd, Evans got down on one knee and proposed to his partner, Stephanie Allen.

The tale has a happy ending as Allen quickly accepted.

To get engaged in front of the winning post at a racetrack is certainly a unique occurrence, but for rider Evans, he says it makes perfect sense.

“I had a good feeling she wasn't going to say no,” Evans said.

“She was hinting to me for about a good six months and I just thought I'd wait until the right moment.

“It was also our one-year anniversary, so I thought I'd do it on that same day.”

Evans is a journeyman jockey who competes all over the state, including recent trips to Springsure, Tambo, Cunnamulla and Charleville from his Allora base.

It is a lifestyle Allen is embracing.

“It was a bit overwhelming for me, I’m not used to being in the spotlight like that,” Allen said of the racetrack proposal.

“I was very nervous, but excited at the same time. It felt right. We get along very well.

“I absolutely do love going to the races. I love the road trips and the camping. I'm all for it.”

Evans had a well-structured plan for his proposal prior to popping the question.

He engaged Springsure caller Scott Power as well as local photographer Catherine Piggott to help with the festivities.

Thankfully for the happy couple, it all went off without a worry.

“I had been thinking about it for a few weeks, how I was going to do it,” Evans said.

“Not many people do it on a racetrack, especially on race day.

“How it panned out, it panned out pretty well after a win.

“I got to the races and I organised everything prior to the speech and all that. A couple of the committee members were in on it, as well.

“I got the ring the day before and just wanted to do it all in one go, really, to have the race and then the proposal on the day.”

On the wedding front, Evans and Allen noted they would take some time in planning their upcoming big day. 

On the track, Evans recorded a victory aboard Prince Carlos for Rogers, as well as a couple of minor placings at Springsure on Saturday.

Prince Carlos won by more than two lengths to record the fifth career victory for the eight-year-old gelding.

Evans was chuffed to land the winner for the Roma stable.

“It was a real good performance by the horse, by Prince Carlos,” he said.

“Pretty much where I was sitting, I had a good feeling he was a good chance to win the race. He was on the bit the whole way, even past the line. It was a good effort by him.

“They're good friends of mine, the Rogers stable. I haven't been riding many for them because I'm usually riding for Vivian Jones and Monique Gavin.

“They've got a good team of horses, them two. But, it was good to get a call-up for riding Prince Carlos.”

Evans will head to Goondiwindi Race Club on Saturday with three mounts for Gavin, who trains out of Cunnamulla.