Emma Pritchard
Racing returned to Grafton on the weekend when more than 200 racegoers attended the Clocktower Hotel Race Day, hosted by the Clarence River Jockey Club (CRJC) on January 28.
With the track rated a Soft 6 and the rail in the true position, 69 starters accepted across the seven-race program for the first race meeting of 2024.
While families enjoyed a variety of free trackside entertainment including carnival rides, a jumping castle, and face painting, punters meticulously studied their form guides before placing their bets as the field headed onto the track for the running of Race 1, the Clocktower Hotel Return To Racing Handicap over 1000m.
Having his first start in over 12 months for new trainer Renita Beaton, Queensland galloper Royal Exit was well supported in the market at 5/1 and strode clear under the urging of jockey Ben Looker to win comfortably by just under one length on the line from Baiyka and Shamaton.
As he praised the six-year-old son of Vancouver, Looker said the strong tempo from the 700m mark helped to bring Royal Exit into the race, adding he was pleased to ride a winner for the geldings Gold Coast based trainer.
“She (Renita) is a great supporter of mine,” he revealed.
After the short-priced favourite Bravely, trained in Murwillumbah by Matthew Dunn, gave punters plenty of reasons to cheer following the running of Race 2, the Bill Dougherty Maiden Plate over 1000m, Looker and Dunn combined to win Race 5, the Clocky Fridays Super Maiden Handicap over 1400m, with promising three-year-old Texas Fireball.
Third up from a spell, the flashy grey gelding was the best to begin in the 10-horse field and quickly assumed the lead before kicking strongly in the home straight to repel the challenge of eventual third placegetter Bamboozled.
Hayaku at 20/1 stormed down the outside to run second.
“He’s still taking it all in,” Looker said of Texas Fireball, who took his career statistics to one win and two minor placings from five starts.
“He pricked his ears with 50m to go.
“There’s no doubt he’ll get further (than 1400m) and he’s a very promising horse.”
While Looker and Dunn celebrated their respective winning doubles, CRJC Chairman Graeme Green presented prominent local racing identities Brian Payne and Russell Graham with life memberships.
Mr Payne’s family won the 1984 Grafton Cup with Riverdale while Mr Graham has raced more than 20 horses on the track.
While both men revealed they were surprised to receive life memberships on the weekend, they gratefully acknowledged the CRJC for bestowing them with the honour.
The CRJC will host their next race meeting on February 6.