The Archer: Major announcement for regional Queensland’s richest race

It’s already regional Queensland’s richest race. Now, The Archer’s stakes are set to be even higher as the chairman reveals the next “sensational step”. DETAILS.

Jockey Ashley Butler rides Emerald Kingdom to victory in the inaugural running of The Archer at Rockhampton's Callaghan Park on May 7, 2022. Caught in the Act Photography CQ.

In what was described as a “game changer,” Rocky Amateurs chairman Bill Reid announced this week that from next year Regional Queensland’s existing richest race, the $775K The Archer (1300m) would scale far greater heights with a million-dollar purse attached.

This brought spontaneous applause from the huge crowd which included prominent southern racing stakeholders attending the clubs Calcutta Luncheon at the Rockhampton Leagues Club.

Reid reined in the audience before making his next announcement that really set tongues wagging as many in the crowd must have questioned their hearing.

“So, from 2025, The Archer winner will be automatically in the traditional $3M Stradbroke Handicap (1400m Brisbane),” Reid said

“This is a sensational step, and this is something that just does not happen in regional racing.

“I am just so proud to announce that this is a game changer and will take The Archer to the next level it has to take.”

Clearly emotional, Reid’s enthusiasm seemed to be contagious with more applause and cheery chatter erupting.

Bill Reid announces $1M purse for The Archer from 2025 and automatic entry into the $3M GR 1 Stradbroke Handicap. Picture: Tony McMahon

Later, Reid said he was highly appreciative of his small group of fellow Rocky Amateurs committee members.

“It has been my most stressful month in racing leading up to Sunday’s The Archer so as to put all this in place and be able to make this announcement today is so special,” he said

“My committee (7) have supported me all the way and thanks must go to member Tony Fenlon for assisting with his racing knowledge.

“I must thank Racing Queensland and its CEO Jason Scott for their assistance and backing us (Rocky Amateurs) with these new concepts. “Also, the Brisbane Racing Club which runs the Stradbroke Handicap for making the future winners of The Archer (2025 onwards) ballot free to gain a start in that mighty race.”

The Stradbroke Handicap traces back to 1890 and has always been regarded as Queensland’s signature sprinting race and as such carries GROUP 1 status.

For the winner of Rocky Amateurs, The Archer to attain automatic entry into the Stradbroke is testimony to not only the status of Rockhampton’s richest race but unquestionably the race club itself.

Specifically, so, as that club, the Rocky Amateurs, formerly the Central Queensland Amateur Racing Club only hold one race date annually at its traditional home base Callaghan Park racecourse.

In racing parlance, The Archer is a “baby”.

It inaugurated at Callaghan Park in 2022 carrying a purse of $440K, mainly funded by 12 slot holders while that dozen opened their wallets to allow it to escalate to $775K for last year and the same for Sunday’s running.

All three fields for The Archer have attracted GROUP class racehorses from some of Australia’s leading stables including, Melbourne’s Ben and JD Hayes, Sydney’s Gai Waterhouse-Adrian Bott as well as Chris Waller and Annabel Neasham.

Imagine then the magnetic appeal it will draw next year from not only a $1M purse but also an automatic road map into the Stradbroke Handicap – the minds of racing purists will boggle.

The Rocky Amateurs family tree traces back to its first race meeting, conducted by the CQARC at Callaghan Park on October 14, 1921.

The big announcement then was that “grass fed” horses could compete but now 103 years later the grass has “never been greener” for the Rocky Amateurs.

Originally published as The Archer: Major announcement for regional Queensland’s richest race