Deniliquin Racing Club wants to build on its 2023 achievements and successes to reach its goal of being one of the leading community racing clubs in country NSW.
Its ambitious plans were outlined by Greg Danckert in his president’s report to the club’s annual general meeting, held last month.
Danckert, who was re-elected unopposed, presented his annual report “with much delight and satisfaction” after the club “experienced a very successful return to racing this year”.
“After enduring past cancellation of meetings through a combination of COVID-19, flood and drought issues, it was with feelings of pure joy and excitement for our club to reward our loyal members and local racing enthusiasts with the conducting of two excellent race meetings (in 2023),” Danckert reported.
He also highlighted the significant improvements to the track and surrounds over the past year.
Danckert said the club was delighted with ongoing improvement of the racing surface, which had received positive feedback from NSW Racing stewards, trainers, jockeys and owners.
Improvements to surrounding amenities included removal of dangerous trees, erecting new fencing at the front entrance, installing new stormwater guttering under the betting ring and the placement of a new window in the judge’s tower.
The club is addressing drainage issues across the complex and in 2024 plans to further improve the safety and condition of its track and facilities through the installation of an outside running rail from the 200m to the 800m, upgrade the track irrigation system and purchase cushion pads for horse race starting stalls.
Danckert acknowledged that weather played an important part in the success of 2023, adding “but more importantly the talented team I am fortunate to have the opportunity to lead and support, has provided the foundation and inspiration for our achievements this year”.
He said it was vital for the ongoing development of the club that “we build upon these achievements and successes in 2024 and beyond”.
The club’s executive and committee for 2024 are: president Greg Danckert, senior vice president Todd Newman, junior vice president Owen Edwards, secretary Geoff Corboy, treasurer Colin McMahon, committee members Joan Douglas, Russell Douglas, Lindsay Holden, Peter Joss, Kev Reeves, Errol Horneman, Leigh Strongman, Frank Caruso, Lyn Hutchins, Megan Baker, Ken Crossley, Leigh Marshall, Steve O’Brien and Karen O’Brien.
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Deniliquin Racing Club president Greg Danckert had a successful finish to 2023 as a racehorse owner.
He has a share in Crown Mint, which raced four times in December for consecutive wins at Morphettville Parks and Morphettville, including his biggest win in a $65,000 Benchmark 78 Handicap.
The Hallowed Crown gelding, trained by Gordon Richards and Damien Moyle, also had two fourth placings in December to take his earnings to almost $300,000.
Danckert and other local racing enthusiasts, including those in the Deniliquintet syndicate managed by Kym Sandford, have been patient with their Scissor Kick mare Rhonda Vous who finally rewarded this patience with a narrow win in the 2000m Maiden at Wangaratta on Tuesday (January 2).
Trainer Scott McIntosh lamented she had been unlucky at recent starts, but on Tuesday was able to come from second last with a sustained run to score a solid win.
Danckert also has an interest in Too Much Caviar, which returned to racing just before Christmas with an unplaced run at Randwick after being heavily backed, following a trial win earlier in the month.
The All Too Hard gelding, in the powerful Waterhouse and Bott stable, should be prominent next time at the track, especially if stepping up in distance.
Bossy Nic, part-owned by the Mundiwa Pastoral Company (manager Clive Landale) raced in Group company throughout the Melbourne Spring Carnival, placing third in the Group 3 Scarborough Stakes before finishing just out of the placings in the Thousand Guineas Prelude (Group 2) and the Red Roses Stakes (Group 3).
Garry Baker part-owns Biosphere, from the Ben Brisbourne stable in Wangaratta.
The Flying Artie colt ran home well for third at Corowa on the last Saturday in December after being heavily backed into favouritism. A win shouldn’t be far away.
Baker also has an interest in the promising Hellbent two year-old colt, Hellberg, also in the Brisbourne stable, which won its first jump-out and is expected to trial next week.
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Do you own a racehorse or have a share in a racehorse? In its efforts to improve the profile of horse racing in the district, Deniliquin Racing Club wants to compile a list of locally owned racehorses and will publish details of racing success in the local media.
Please join the list by sending an email to deniliquinracingclub@gmail.com or text 0409 447 609. Include your name and the name of your horse(s).