3 minute read

Excitement is running high as the countdown is well and truly underway for Rockhampton’s biggest race meeting of the year at Callaghan Park racecourse.

St Peter's School Caulfield Cup Race Day – Rockhampton racing's biggest judged by race crowd, gallops into action this coming Saturday, October 16. 

The mammoth day orchestrated just over three decades ago as a major fundraiser for Rockhampton's St Peter's Catholic School, has gone on to exceed all expectations.

The concept was spawned in part from a meeting of racing stakeholders and promoters and headed by Dr Peter Dunbar at leading Rockhampton trainer Lyle Rowe's Tompkins Street residence just over 30 years ago.

Dr Dunbar, who went on to become a chairman of the RJC, was a forward thinker believing the concept of a race day backed by the St Peter's Catholic School parents and friends had enormous dual-purpose potential.

I attended that meeting as Racing Writer for The Morning Bulletin so as to ensure the plans received optimum publicity.

I clearly remember Peter Dunbar advocating the value for having the spring race meeting as a fundraiser for the school as well as introducing people to the social aspects of such a race day.

Excuse the pun, but the good doctor's prescription was just the medicine St Peter's School and the Rockhampton Jockey Club needed to introduce a major spring race day coinciding with the Caulfield Cup.

From just a few hundred St Peter's School associates in the early years it grew beyond all expectations with crowds firstly breaking 1000 and then 2000 as the years rolled on.

Now the St Peter's School students of those early race days are the parents of current pupils and for sure three generations will be represented at Callaghan Park on Saturday.

To even consider that the St Peter's Caulfield Cup Race Day would eventually lure a bigger crowd to Callaghan Park than the Rockhampton Cup Day races would have been considered folly in its infancy.

Interwoven with spring, the St Peter's Races are a natural for the latest fashions to be on parade on the lawns of Callaghan Park.

Not even the pandemic could dampen the spirits of the entrants in the Fashion Stakes at the 2020 St Peter's Day, although judging was conducted from on course photographs and not the normal parade catwalk.

Winners were announced off-course but they were still all grinners.

However, come Saturday, convention returns to normal with the RJC's Operations Manager Kelly Suli announcing there will be some magnificent prizes on offer for winners of The Rocks Fashion on the Field.

"We are indeed fortunate and grateful to have the sponsors such as The Rocks Yeppoon Bar and Restaurant, Oshen Holiday Apartments, Yeppoon and Ramsay Pharmacy," Suli said.

"The prizes include valuable accommodation packages plus multiple vouchers worth $500 each.

"Full details of the registration format and categories for eligibility are online at the RJC Facebook Page."

So too are details of still available luncheon packages and admission tickets to the big day out.

A huge multi-draw raffle with a massive list of prizes will be conducted with proceeds going to Rockhampton horse trainer Craig Russell who has recently undergone major surgery in Brisbane.