Prestigious Toowoomba race raises more than $100,000 for charities

A Toowoomba outreach program helping young children develop important life skills is set to receive a major funding boost thanks to Toowoomba’s richest horse race. Details here.

Toowoomba Turf Club’s richest horse race is already ‘paying dividends’ more than a month away from its inaugural running on New Year’s Eve.

More than $100,000 was raised through the auction of two slots in the prestigious King of the Mountain with those funds being donated to three charities.

Toowoomba children’s literacy charity program The Lighthouse, Queensland Jockeys Association and the Queensland Off-The-Track program will each receive about $37,000.

“This will go a long way in assisting the placement of retired racehorses into second careers,

as well as promoting life after racing options and identifying retirement pathways,” Racing Queensland Senior Animal Care manager Kim Duffy said.

“We’re proud to see that a race by Queenslanders exclusively for Queenslanders has chosen

to support a program that exists to see retired Queensland horses thrive after leaving the

track.

“We’d like to thank the Toowoomba Turf Club and look forward to supporting the inaugural

Mort & Co King Of The Mountain event.”

Toowoomba Turf Club CEO Lizzy King (right) presents a donation to Kim Duffy from Racing Queensland.

The donations come as one of Toowoomba’s top racing stables signalled its intent to add the $750,000 1200m sprint title to their trophy cabinet.

Father-daughter Tony and Maddysen Sears will saddle lightly raced three-year-olds Steady Ready and Yellow Brick in the inaugural King of the Mountain.

Steady Ready showed exactly what he is capable of with stunning victory over 900m at the Gold Coast last Saturday.

“We’re very lucky, myself and my daughter, we’re in partnership together so it’s very exciting times,” Tony said.

“We are very lucky to have two horses in the race.

“It’s not easy to do.”

The Mort and Co King Of The Mountain will be Queenslands richest provincial race featuring prize money of $750,000, at the announcement are (from left) Toowoomba Turf Club CEO Lizzy King, committee member Catherine Kirkwood and trainer Maddy Sears with Splash. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The Sears duo will face stiff competition in the shape of Group 1 and Weetwood Handicap winner Apache Chase who was the first slot holder.

“You’ve got to respect every horse in the race, especially Brisbane horses,” Tony said.

“We’re very confident with the two horses we’ve got, that they have plenty of ability.

“He’s a very good horse Apache Chase, and I think whatever beats him is probably going to win the race.

Tickets for the King of the Mountain are on sale now via the Toowoomba Turf Club website.