THE crowd may have been smaller than normal, but those present enjoyed an excellent day of racing on the Home Hill track on Saturday, November 12 as the Burdekin Race Club conducted a five-event meeting on a date forfeited by the Herbert River Jockey Club.
Home Hill trainer and Burdekin Club President, Ricky Gudge was successful with two of his three runners on the day, winning the first and last events for many of his local owners, while young apprentice jockey, Isabella Teh started the day well, leading the way to the winning post in the first two races, while also beaten by a length into second on Forgiato in the last race over 1460 metres.
Ms Teh won the first event over 1180 metres on Lumerai and followed up in race two over the same distance on Norwegian Wood.
The Burdekin Club took over the race date when the Ingham Club was unable to use its date and Home Hill will be the venue for another extra meeting on December 3, when the local club hosts a five-event meeting on a date that the Charters Towers Club has been unable to use.
The Ricky Gudge-trained Lumerai was successful for three local owners, Mrs Leanne Gudge, Mrs Helen Scott and Mrs Bhree Caspanello in the first race of the day, the Maiden Plate, winning by a length from Gulf of Aqaba (Scott Sheargold) with On Your Skates (Pietro Romeo) in third place.
The Club President was unsuccessful with Rebel Lake in the fourth event, but his locally trained Keighley Sun (Nathan Day) led the way for its large group of mainly local owners in the final event, the Benchmark 60 Handicap over 1460 metres.
Rebel Lake did not start well, trailing from the start but came around the field on the home turn to score by a length over Forgiato (L. Teh) with Stronach (Bonnie Thompson) in third place.
Racing will return on Saturday, December 3 when another five-event program is to be held.
The Club has received some excellent reviews at its most recent meetings following improvements made to the track with a new running rail installed and the surface of the track upgraded to a first-class standard.
