Jockey Dwayne Dunn will donate any prize money he wins at the Rapid Racing meeting at Flemington to the Kangaroo Island bushfire appeal.
Dunn grew up on Kangaroo Island on a 1500-acre property where he learned to ride before becoming a leading jockey in South Australia and now Victoria.
The jockey has set up a gofundme page for the ride for Kangaroo Island appeal and all-up hopes to raise $50,000.
“It was a special place and it’s where I started to learn how to ride horses and get the bug and ambition to be a jockey,” Dunn told RSN927.
“It played a pretty special part in my life and unfortunately what has transpired in the last few months has been devastating for everyone there.”
Dunn said a personal friend had lost three farms, two houses and a shearing shed and some peope had lost between 7000 and 10,000 head of sheep and 1000 to 2000 head of cattle.
“Their lives have been ruined and they’re picking up the pieces now,” Dunn said.
“What we’ve also got to remember is the wildlife that was lost. We’ve lost a lot of animals that won’t be able to replenish.
“It wasn’t only personal, but also the animals, which was pretty sad to see.”
Dunn has rides in six of the seven races at the first Rapid Racing meeting on Sunday which will run between 4pm and 7pm with races run at 30 minute intervals on Flemington’s straight course.
“It’s a good concept and we’ve got to try some new things,” Dunn said.
“Hopefully we can build this meeting and maybe make it like a Good Friday Appeal that everyone knows the date as a great fundraiser that racing can do for charities.”
