The State’s Country Cups schedule has again proven its significant social and economic impact, with Racing and Wagering WA chair Karen Farley declaring the recent TABtouch Pinjarra Cup a resounding success.
With some 4000 punters flocking into the picturesque Pinjarra Park course, it capped a magnificent big-race double for the club following a similar crowd attending the Magic Millions Raceday at the same venue last month.
“Regional racing plays an important role right around WA – not only economically, but also from a social standpoint, which was on full display at the Pinjarra Cup,” Karen said.
“The Pinjarra Race Club, like many race clubs around WA, provides a great social hub for the community to connect and enjoy a fantastic day of racing. To see so many people having such a great time together trackside is what it is all about and reminds us all why we do what we do in racing.”
Race clubs are an important cornerstone of regional towns throughout the State, with 49 race clubs in WA helping to contribute to supporting more than 10,000 jobs that are directly linked to the racing industry.
And racegoers enjoying one of the main annual social calendar highlights of the Peel region were not disappointed with the on-course action, with high-quality racing to compliment the great atmosphere.
The Steve Wolfe-prepared gelding Currumundi, piloted by Shaun “Shooter” McGruddy, flashed home down the outside to deny Captain Pluto a Bunbury-Pinjarra Cup double for Willie Pike and the Grant & Alana Williams stable. The victory came just a week after Wolfe and McGruddy also teamed up to win the Bluff Knoll slot race in Albany with TABtouch’s $5 million Kia Quokka contender, Rope Them in.
Pinjarra Race Club chairman Phil Ibbotson said the success of both the Pinjarra Cup and Magic Millions race days was felt throughout the town.
“The Cup meeting in Pinjarra and in all regional towns is so important for the community … it’s usually the biggest social event for the year,” Phil said.
“It was also great to have Karen Farley on course. We have a number of projects planned for the club, so it was beneficial for her to get more of an insight about our facilities.”
While the Pinjarra track and surrounding facilities were presented in sensational order for Cup day, Karen said her view inside the Pinjarra Park administration quarters – including the outdated female jockey facilities and medical room – showed the importance of the Cook Government’s recent $25 million commitment to a WA regional racing infrastructure fund.
“The Royalties for Regional Racing Infrastructure fund has come at the right time and will provide much-needed relief for the clubs involved, including Pinjarra,” she said.
“Seeing the state of the female jockeys’ rooms on race day reinforced for me just how important these upgrades are, especially considering that in our sport, we pride ourselves on the fact that men and women compete on a level playing field.”
The “Country Cups” trail will head to the Great Northern region this Sunday with the running of the annual TABtouch Geraldton Gold Cup.
