HIGHLIGHT of the first local racehorse meeting of the summer, at the popular picnic venue Woolamai on Saturday, was the fact that the club managed to get through a day of thrilling racing and end-of-work year celebrations.
Rain was falling lightly as the punters and partygoers started arriving at 12.30pm, some in their plastic ponchos and raincoats or under umbrellas, while others paid scant regard to the threatening clouds and dressed up in their race-day finery or something colourful regardless.
It seemed that the Armageddon, increasingly predicted by the bureau these days, was in fact happening.
The rain was still tumbling down as the first race approached at 1.40pm before kindly holding off for a couple of hours to really get the party started. Floods? Not so much!
By the time the light showers returned, talented female jockey Mel McDonald had already booted home a double, in consecutive races,
embarrassing the boys with an all-the-way victory by six lengths, on the Jason Evans-trained Sacra in the second race, and an equally impressive ride on Chanting Rhythm in the third.
“The track is holding up well. They’re getting into it but there’s not much kickback at this stage which is good. It’s still quite good on the fence but you might start looking for a bit firmer going out wide later,” said Ms McDonald.
A feature of her two wins was the presentation of a trophy in memory of Woolamai and District Racing Club legend Don ‘Duck’ Matheson, to the winning connections of race two.
Mr Matheson, who was associated with the club in every capacity for more than 50 years, passed away in August.
The raid by jockey Grant Seccombe, and Traralgon trainers Troy and Ricky Kilgower was also in full swing with the trio combining to get Combustion home in exciting style in the first, then backed up with Lisieux at $6.50 in the fourth, and High Ferocity, also at $6.50 in the last race.
The dominance by McDonald and Seccombe left only crumbs for the other jockeys with Leigh Taylor getting the other win available, on Lika Mosh in the fifth race for Cranbourne trainer Peter Foster.
In short, while the rain failed to dampen spirits or to take away from the fun and frivolity of the patrons, it almost certainly stopped an even bigger crowd turning out.
For all that, it was another great day of racing and social interaction with more to come at Woolamai on Saturdays December 21, and 28 and January 11 with the Alex Scott and Staff Woolamai Cup on Saturday, February 8.
Stony Creek Racing Club kicks off its season with the Brandt Family Fun Day on Monday, December 30.
