AN ALMOST ceaseless, icy wind failed to deter travellers from the Katherine region and beyond, from converging on Brunette Downs Station for its iconic, four-day race weekend, with a thousand-strong crowd gathering for the cup day on Saturday.
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A.B.C. Amateur Race Club secretary Linda Blackwood said there was an impressive influx of people for the whole weekend, with a particularly strong showing for the running of the A.B.C. Landmark Gold Cup on Saturday afternoon, when last year’s victors, About Time, ridden by Karen Sullivan, again took the prize
“Karen was presented with Leading Trainer and Leading Jockey awards for this meet as well,” Ms Blackwood said.
The ten-year-old gelding proved too strong on the day for 2008, 2009 winner Wah Zin Kah, who ran second, followed by Karachina Bilby and XPole.
“It was just two fantastic days of racing on Thursday and Saturday,” Ms Blackwood said.
And despite comments from long-time committee members that this was the windiest, coldest race weekend in memory, Ms Blackwood said it was great to see people were not deterred from putting on their race finery.
“Everything ran very smoothly for the weekend, and there were also few injuries through the course of the Friday rodeo and the campdrafting, which is a great thing.”
Ms Blackwood said in her six years on the committee new ideas are continually being considered to add more dimensions to the event.
“There has been a change in dynamic in terms of who is attending. It’s traditionally been a community event attended by local stations, and now we have a much greater arrangement of visitors, family and friends and tourists coming.”
Ms Blackwood said the A.B.C. committee had worked very hard to put on a true bush celebration, backed by support and sponsorship from local and national businesses.
“It’s great people are so dedicated to this event,” she said.
