A cheeky comment from Jimmy Brown to John Dumesny after winning a group 1 in 2009 was the genesis of the JC Caffyn Plate, which has developed into an award-winning concept drawing Indigenous drivers from around the country.
The race started an invitational affair but has developed in six years into a series with four heats to qualify before the final at the Fisher's Ghost meeting at Menangle next Sunday.
"I still remember it Jimmy was going off the track, he was pretty happy, and said to me 'Dummo when are you going to put a race on for us black fellas?' It took a couple of years but we got the race off the ground," Dumesny said.
Menangle director Michael Brown has been a driving force behind the race, which now has four heats to qualify for the final.
"It has become quite sought-after and the recognition from the Clubs and Community award in the Arts and Culture section was fantastic."
The series is named in honour of Jimmy Caffyn, who won five trainer's premiership and six driver's premierships at Harold Park in the 1950 and '60s.
Danny Gibson has been the star of the series this year, qualifying for the final winning heats at Parkes and Tamworth and also was second in the Wagga heat by Jeff Brown.
Bruce O'Brien took one of the two heats at Tamworth and ran to Gibson in the other, while Danny Gatt-Bouquet Danny Gibson also qualified for next week's final.
"It is becoming a bigger day all the time, Fisher's Ghost day with the Indigenous community really becoming a big part of the day," Dumesny said. "We have plans to expand the series in coming years."
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