Jockeys, bull riders and bronc riders will descend on Cloncurry Equestrian Centre for the final races and rodeo event of the year.
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Saturday October 29, will see Cloncurry and District Race Club host the annual K&R Contracting Derby Day Races and inaugural rodeo.
The Derby Day Races will start its five race meeting at 1.45pm with over 52 nominations for the day.
Cloncurry and District Race Club secretary, Bronwyn Smith, said because it was Cloncurry’s last race meeting of the year a large crowd was expected with a minimum of 500 people.
“Everyone loves dressing up each year in the black and white theme as it runs in conjunction with the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival Derby Day,” Smith said.
Everyone loves dressing up each year in the black and white theme as it runs in conjunction with the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival Derby Day.
- Bronwyn Smith
“Leading up to the famous Melbourne Cup it also draws to the end of the social season in Cloncurry, so locals make an effort to catch up with everyone.
“People travel from all over the North West to attend. We have a large crowd come across from Mount Isa each year and a Mount Isa Race Club have organised a courtesy bus from Mount Isa to Cloncurry for those who do not wish to drive.”
The last race will be run at 4.45pm subject to everything running on time. The rodeo will then kick off at 6.30pm with the first bull ride.
“This is the first year that we have held the rodeo in conjunction with the K&R Contracting Derby Day Races.
“We thought we would try to do something a bit different to previous years and add more variety for the crowd,” Smith said.
“As a small community we have a lot of people interested in races and a lot of people interested in rodeo so we thought we would combine the two.”
Nominations have closed for the rodeo, with 18 bull riders and 13 saddle bronc riders all fighting for their piece of the accumulated $5000 prize money.
“It is not a full-blown rodeo, but this rodeo is an opportunity for all the station hands, ringers or up-and-coming rodeo enthusiasts to have a go,” Smith said.
“This is also a charity event with part of the profits going towards the Hospital Auxiliary.
“With the combination for the races and rodeo it makes for a great family day out while supporting a worthwhile cause.”
Cloncurry and District Race Club would like to thank Telford Bros Bucking String for supplying stock for the rodeo and all the other sponsors and community members for supporting the event.
If you would like more information on the event go to the Cloncurry and District Race Club Facebook page.
If you would like more information on the courtesy bus from Mount Isa to Cloncurry contact Mount Isa Race Club Facebook Page.