THE thoroughbred industry’s highest achievers were honoured overnight at the 2018 UBET Queensland Thoroughbred Awards.
Racing Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the awards were a fitting tribute not only to the winners, but also to the more than 40,000 Queenslanders employed or engaged in the State’s racing industry.
“Queensland’s racing industry is packed with talent and this was on full display at last night’s awards,” he said.
“The 29 award recipients included five new inductees into the Racing Queensland Hall of Fame.
“I want to congratulate all the award winners and pay tribute to the outstanding contribution they make to the Queensland racing industry.”
Racing Queensland chief executive Brendan Parnell said those honoured were the beating heart of the racing industry and they worked extremely hard to ensure the sport continued to grow.
“It is important that we stopped to celebrate some of the remarkable achievements of our participants over the past 12 months,” he said.
Premiership winners from across the state were recognised on the night, including Queensland’s provincial and overall premier trainer Ben Currie, provincial premiership jockey Justin Stanley, country trainer Bevan Johnson and country jockey Dan Ballard.
Jag Guthmann-Chester won the prestigious Ken Russell Queensland Apprentice of the Year after taking the metropolitan apprentices’ premiership. Nathan Fazackerly (country apprentice) and Baylee Nothdurft (provincial apprentice) were also recognised.
Among the five inducted into the Racing Queensland Hall of Fame was former The Courier-Mail racing editor and BRC racing manager Bart Sinclair. Mr Sinclair is recognised as one of Queensland’s greatest ambassadors for racing and has been part of the Hall of Fame voting panel since the 1980s.
The other inductees included champion galloper of the early 1900s, Molly’s Robe, jockey Fred Shean, trainer Con Doyle and associate Ceb Barnes.
For more information about the awards, visit www.racingqueensland.com.au.
