Mareeba eyes meet

A little-used FNQ club have put their hand up to pick up Sunday’s non-TAB card from Innisfail after the Cassowary Coast town has copped heavy rain this week.

Frances Petersen, Mareeba Turf Club secretary Cathy Sloane and Rowena Petersen. PHOTO: Bronwyn Wheatcroft.

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The little-used Mareeba Turf Club has put its hand up to pick up Sunday’s non-TAB card from Innisfail, after the Cassowary Coast town copped heavy rain this week.

Innisfail officials and Racing Queensland were in discussions on Wednesday, trying to work out a plan to run the race day somewhere in north Queensland, following significant rain on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

The five-event non-TAB program was offered to Gordonvale in place of Innisfail if rain continued, but knocked it back, believing it could not get its track and facilities ready on short notice.

Camphor, Jockey Brayden Swaffer, Owner Peter Rowe, Trainer Trevor Rowe and former Turf Club President Wes King.

Mareeba, however, said bring it to them.

“We would be good to go, no problem at all,” Mareeba trainer and club vice president Alex Malliff said.

“We can make it happen, if we were offered it.”

Mareeba has not raced since Boxing Day and recently upgraded its track, which would be ready to be raced on come Sunday, Malliff said.

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He said the committee spoke about the potential of picking up the meeting on Tuesday, thinking it might come this week.

Gordonvale Turf Club President Kent Alley would have loved to race the meeting for Innisfail, but could not make it work.

Effigy Belle took out first place in the QTIS Added Stakes Maiden Plate 1010m first day for the day. Pictured with some proud owners John Bight, Glen Hurney, Lacey Bathe, Mareeba Turf Club president Wes King, Barry Smart and Geoff Smith. Photo: Andrea Falvo.

“It was offered to us but we would not have the time and manpower to get our track ready,” Alley said.

“With only a couple of days’ notice, I do not think we will be able to do it. We are working to have our track in pristine condition come October for our Cup Day, but on short notice like this, we could not run a race day.”

There was doubt the country Cups would be run later in 2020 due to the coronavirus, but Alley said Gordonvale is in the process of searching for sponsors for its Cup Day later this year.

Innisfail’s Pease Park track has lost a number of meetings over the last year, with rain and heat forcing race days elsewhere to be cancelled.

Tolga’s Morrow Park usually picks up any Innisfail meetings that cannot be run, but this Sunday has a prior commitment that will not allow the Tablelands club to take it.

Herbert River Jockey Club in Ingham could be another option to step in for Innisfail this Sunday.

Meanwhile, tenders are out for Innisfail’s track redevelopment works, which are set to start later this year.

Originally published as Mareeba eyes meet