Raquel Clark celebrates a massive season dominating the 2018-19 SA racing awards
Jockey Raquel Clark dominates South Australian Racing Industry Awards as Despatch is crowned 2018-19 SA Horse of the Year.
Raquel Clark’s bold move to take her riding career to the next level in Adelaide was rewarded when she dominated the South Australian Racing Industry Awards at Morphettville on Saturday night.
The former Tasmanian walked away with six awards.
She was crowned both the SA Jockey of the Year and Apprentice Jockey of the Year on the back of winning the Metropolitan and Provincial and Country Jockey titles in both the Senior and Apprentice categories.
“I’ve had a massive year, definitely the best of my career to date,’’ Clark said.
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”It’s rewarding to get the recognition. I see these awards as an incentive ti work hard to push for bigger and better things,’’ she said.
Clark’s boss, Hall of Fame trainer Leon Macdonald, said her success was built on natural talent and a relentless work ethic.
“She’s had a wonderful yeah and she’s worked very hard for it,’’ Macdonald said.
“She doesn’t miss a morning and it’s been an amazing year for her.
“Two years ago when she just got here I predicted this, I didn’t say she’d be topping Jamie Kah but I thought she’d be right behind her.
“It’s a big effort for an apprentice to win a rider’s premiership,’’ he said.
Clark run down late for the most prestigious award in SA racing — the John Letts medal — by Todd Pannell.
Despite falling short of the Metropolitan Premiership, Pannell’s Group 1 win aboard Horse of the Year winner Despatch and strong end to the season saw him grab Clark late in the season to claim his first Letts Medal.
Pannell celebrated alongside the connections of Despatch brilliant season was rewarded winning the Horse of the Year.
The horse winning four successive raced including the Listed Oakbank Stakes, Group 3 McKay Stakes before his breakthrough win in the Group 1 Goodwood at Morphettville in May.
His trainer Tony McEvoy celebrated another huge year for his dual state stable winning the Trainer of the Year and Metropolitan Trainer of the Year awards while Grant Young was the Provincial and Country Trainer of the Year for a second successive year.
“Thoroughbred racing is a very competitive industry so I’m always proud to win these awards,’’ McEvoy said.
“Winning is a culmination of the hard work by our staff,’’ he said.
Eric Musgrove and Steven Pateman claimed the Jumps Trainer and Jockey of the Year respectively while champion jockey Jim Courtney joined some greats in the Hall of Fame alongside top jumper Dorian.
Zalmona was crowned SA best performed horse after a consistent season while the Murray Bridge Racing Club celebrated the opening of their new Gifford Hill track claiming the Outstanding Achievement by a Club while President John Buhagiar won the individual award.
2018-19 TRSA INDUSTRY AWARD WINNERS
Champion Racehorse of the Year — Despatch
2018/19 John Letts Medal — Todd Pannell
Jockey of the Year — Raquel Clark
Apprentice of the Year — Raquel Clark
Metropolitan Jockey of the Year — Raquel Clark
Metropolitan Apprentice Jockey of the Year — Raquel Clark
Provincial and Country Jockey of the Year — Raquel Clark
Provincial and Country Apprentice Jockey of the Year- Raquel Clark
Trainer of the Year -Tony McEvoy
Metropolitan Trainer of the Year — Tony McEvoy
Provincial and Country Trainer of the Year — Grant Young
Jumps Jockey of the Year — Steven Pateman
Jumps Trainer of the Year — Eric Musgrove
Best Performed Horse — Zalmona
Outstanding Achievement Award by a Club — Murray Bridge Racing Club
Outstanding Achievement Award by an Individual — John Buhagiar
Hall of Fame Inductees — Jim Courtney and Doiran