OVER 2000 racegoers gathered at the 72nd race meeting at “Funny Hill”, Binda last Saturday for the one of the more popular events in the shire.
With a decision made to cancel the race meet last year by Racing NSW officials, the Crookwell and District Amateur Picnic Race Club invested in excess of $30,000 to carry out the work required to meet Racing NSW’s standards.
Committee members and volunteers gave more than 1200 hours to make sure the 2016 race meeting went ahead.
As one of the first country race meets in Australia, with the first held in 1848, a dramatic and heart felt response by it’s supporters was made by Racing NSW’s decision.
President David Culley, Crookwell, said the committee was surprised on the amount of help that was offered.
“The amount of help that came through made everything a hell of a lot easier,” Mr Culley said.
“The committee made the commitment back in April 2015 to get the show on the road, that we weren’t going to fold up, we were going to trying and put it back on.
“I think it was indicated on the day when the track was in such good order.”
A life membership presentation was made during the day to Mr Culley and his wife Catherine.
Mr Culley joined the committee in 1999, became president in 2013 and has remained in the position since.
Mrs Culley joined the committee in 2005; she served as vice-president for five years and president for three years.
She has also acted as track veterinarian on a number of occasions.
Patron of the race Club and owner of “Funny Hill”, James Carr, said without David and Catherine’s enthusiasm and hard work, people wouldn’t be enjoying the race meeting.
“I can’t guess how many hours they have contributed to the club during the past year’s extensive fencing and track rehabilitation program,” he said.
For it’s return, good nominations were received, but acceptances were down because of the lack of jockeys.
“It was disappointing that we could only find four jockey’s on the day, because we had more horses for some of the races, but that is part and parcel of it,” Mr Culley said.
A painting of the race meeting by artist Michael Fitch was auctioned with all proceeds going to Macquarie University Motor Neurone Disease research in memory of Mike Mayoh, who served on the race club committee for a number of years, and lost his battle with MND last year.
Almost $3000 was raised on the day with another $1500 promised.
