October
JuneRay of sunshine
Congratulations to the Bendigo Jockey Club, the Australian Jumping Racing Association and all concerned with Mosstrooper Steeplechase day.
It was a fantastic day, featuring three excellent jumps races run on arguably Victoria’s finest racetrack.
For such a prestigious and successful race club as Bendigo to embrace jumps racing is a massive boost for the jumps industry. The club’s president, Brendan Drechsler, and his committee deserve to be recognised and applauded for their efforts.
Over the last decade participants and supporters have been entitled to think that they have been swimming against a tide of tsunami proportions to ensure the survival of jumps racing in Victoria.
Thankfully, at long last, there are very real signs that the tide has turned and that the industry will not only survive but prosper. I refer, in particular, to:
1. The fact that, unlike his predecessor, Victorian Minister for Racing Denis Napthine is a knowledgeable and enthusiastic supporter of jumps racing;
2. One of Australia’s most prominent owners, Lloyd Williams, is once again actively involved in jumps racing; and
3. The Bendigo Jockey Club is now committed to jumps racing and hopefully will serve as an example to others such as Ballarat to re-engage with jumps racing in the future.
It was symbolic of the positive changes that have occurred in recent times that, during the running of the Mosstrooper Steeplechase, a ray of sunshine penetrated the grey clouds that had covered the racecourse throughout the day.
Lake Wendouree (Vic)