King Island Racing: How 2022 program was saved from brink
Three months ago, King Island Racing Club’s 2022 program was in tatters. Fast forward to now and it’s possible they may even need to put an extra meet on. Read how it happened.
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The August 12 annual general meeting for 131-year-old King Island Racing Club was not a happy experience.
The retirement of two of the island’s veteran trainers, Rod McGarvie and Ron Crack, who between them had about 10 thoroughbreds, meant there would be only 12 remaining on the island – not enough to go ahead with this year’s season.
“It was looking like we weren’t going to go ahead,” president Audrey Hamer said.
However, Ms Hamer’s desperate social media plea that night for more horses travelled like wildlife up a hill. The club now has at least 35 thoroughbreds booked for their season, maybe more.
Ms Hamer said if they reached the magic number of 40-plus, they would need TasRacing to put on an extra race for them, as the club’s barriers dictate only eight horses can race at a time.
Some of the major mainland trainers to commit to sending horses over include Gippsland’s Chris Diplock, Cranbourne’s Shane Bottomley, and the “Ballarat crew”: Henry Dwyer, David Eustace and Ciaron Maher.
If those last two sound especially familiar, they should – their stallion Gold Trip just claimed the Melbourne Cup.
These trainers will be joined by King Island’s ageless son Jim Taylor, who has approximately eight horses.
“It’s absolutely fabulous, we couldn’t be looked after any better than we have,” Ms Hamer said.
They say it takes a village to raise a child but it also takes a village to bring the races back from the brink. It’s been a team effort, Ms Hamer said.
Hospital cleaner Ailean Hyde and veterinarian Dr John Cleland will both be hosting trainers at the residences; retired trainer Mr McGarvie will host horses on his 110ha property; Bass Island Lines are offering freight subsidies to get the horses over; and, finally, the Ballarat crew will donate all their winnings from the day towards a variety of King Island charities.
Trainer Chris Diplock said the King Island racing carnival was a “bucket list” item for him.
His farrier, Shayne Turner, does a lot of work on the island and helped connect him with the desperate Ms Hamer.
“I go quiet with work in December–January, my main job is breaking in, he said why don’t you get onto them and it snowballed,” Mr Diplock said.
Mr Diplock said his two-month stay on King Island would be a “fun little working holiday”.
“I like the idea of seven-meeting carnival, it must be a really vibrant time,” he said.
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Originally published as King Island Racing: How 2022 program was saved from brink
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