Emma Pritchard

Close to 400 racegoers headed trackside on January 27 when the Clarence River Jockey Club (CRJC) hosted their first race meeting for 2025, the Maclean Hotel Race Day.

With the rail in the true position and the track rated a Soft 5, 87 starters including a number of debutants accepted across an eight-race program.

Returning to his favourite regional racetrack, Country Championship Final winning jockey Ben Looker added another three winners to his career tally during the day.

His first winner came in Race 1, the Maclean Hotel Staff 2YO Handicap over 1000m, on board the Brett Cavanough trained filly Zumbo.

A first starter by one of Australia’s leading sires Zoustar, Zumbo broke cleanly from an inside barrier and proved too strong for her rivals after being aided by a rail-hugging ride by Looker who backed up his early success with his second winner from as many rides in Race 2, the Maclean Hotel Management Country Boosted Maiden Plate, again over 1000m.

Partnering three-year-old filly Ocean Proud (GB), also trained by Cavanough, Looker denied fellow rider Jon Grisedale aboard the short priced favourite Humphree Bear by 1.4 lengths on the line. 8/1 shot Kermaceto ran third.

Looker claimed his third win of the day in Race 4, the Maclean Hotel Bottlemart Benchmark 58 Handicap when progressive mare Rothesay’s Ruby kicked clear to win the 2200m event by a long neck over the well-tried favourite Decarbonise.

While the punters enjoyed a successful start to the day, the bookies cheered after 50/1 outsider Thinkin’ Bo You scored a resounding win in Race 5, the Maclean Hotel Accommodation Maiden Plate over 1550m.

As the punters flicked through their form guides in search of more winners, CRJC Vice Chairman Stephen Haines welcomed racegoers back to Grafton for the first time this year and took the opportunity to present a Life Membership to local racing identity Graeme Rickwood.

Mr Rickwood was also appointed as an Ambassador for the CRJC.

A former licensed bookmaker who worked throughout the Northern Rivers region for over 25 years, Mr Rickwood retired in the mid-1990s and has been an active member of the CRJC since 1994.

He has attended 54 consecutive Grafton Cup race meetings and has been involved in the ownership of a number of former talented local gallopers including Tellemtogo and Darshan Joh, who were both trained by John Shelton.

Mr Rickwood extended his appreciation to the CRJC and said racing has always been a big part of his life.

The CRJC will host their next race meeting on February 24.