The Murrumbidgee Turf Club (MTC) is proud to announce the results of sponsored riders Jess Grosmann and Sophie Fox at this year’s Equimillion event hosted at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre from Friday 4 October to Monday 7 October.
The four-day event, hosted by Racing NSW, paid out $1 million in prize money exclusively to Off The Track (retired) thoroughbred racehorses, who competed in Dressage, Jumping, Eventing and Show Thoroughbred disciplines.
Sponsored rider and professional 5* event rider Jess Grosmann competed on former Tim Donnelly trained Duchy of Cornwall and secured second place in the Newstar 80 Eventing Class.
Grosmann is thrilled with the event and how well Duchy of Cornwall has adapted to life after racing.
“I am thrilled with Duchy of Cornwall who was still racing in May at the Wagga Gold Cup Carnival earlier this year, coming out second at Equimillion is really quite impressive.”
“We are so lucky that Racing NSW has taken the initiative to promote how versatile racehorses can be post racing.”
Sponsored rider and professional 4* event rider Sophie Fox took two horses to the event placing third in the Newstar 80 Eventing Class on the former Darrell Burnet trained I Am Richenuff, securing the paira $4,000 paycheck.
It was Fox’s first year being sponsored by the MTC and was thrilled with the opportunity.
“Equimillion was a great experience for myself and both my horses. The event was very friendly and relaxed for the horses, allowing them to show the potential they both have to excel in our sport in the future.”
“’I Am Richenuff’ and ‘Cellar Champ’ performed incredibly well given their limited experience after racing. They finished 3rd & 11th respectively, both not adding any jumping faults to their finishing score.”
MTC CEO, Jason Ferrario is thrilled to see local Wagga Wagga horses excelling in their new careers off the track.
“It’s so great to see our locally trained horses thrive in their new environments post racing. We have such an array of skilled riders in our region, so it’s great to see our local Wagga horses finding such incredible homes”.
“The MTC will continue to sponsor local riders for the annual Equimillion competition, and we can’t wait to see fantastic results again next year.”
The MTC is proud to be associated with such a great initiative and will continue to support the talented local thoroughbreds and riders in the Riverina region and surrounds. The MTC look forward to seeing another group of incredible retrained thoroughbreds and riders compete again next year.
As the warm weather starts to heat up the Riverina, Wagga is set to come alive with three months of racing, fashion, live music and entertainment. The Murrumbidgee Turf Club (MTC) is delighted to launch the 2024 Spring Racing Carnival as well as the search for the 2025 Faces of the Carnival (FOTC).
As Spring Racing is synonymous with amazing racing and events, the MTC look forward to welcoming crowds to the track to enjoy feature race days, Aggies Races, Wagga Picnic Races, Players & Ponies Charity Race Day, Good Talk & Tradies Day, Xmas Party Race Day and Ted Ryder Cup Day (Christmas Eve).
Choose from one of the many hospitality experiences offered on course each day and grab your family and friends for a fun day out whilst cheering on local and interstate horses who will have their moment galloping in the sun.
MTC CEO, Jason Ferrario is excited as springtime is the best time of the year for racing, “preparations are underway with our amazing track and maintenance team who always do an immaculate job.”
“There are so many upcoming race days which provide opportunities to reconnect with friends and family and enjoy a fun day out at the races. We are also proud of the fact that last Spring, we were able to raise over $50,000 for various charities through our race days.”
After a more than successful Wagga Gold Cup Carnival, the FOTC search for 2025 is underway with applications opening on September 1. The MTC are looking for two enthusiastic ambassadors who are approachable and excited about horse racing, fashion and fun.
The successful applicants for 2025 will be a part of Wagga’s night of nights at the 100 Club Gala Night, take part in a professional marketing photoshoot and attend the Wagga Gold Cup Carnival, including Tooheys Town Plate Day and Wagga Gold Cup Day.
The MTC welcomes back sponsors for this year’s FOTC search Michael Woodford from Blowes Clothing Wagga as well as welcoming on-board new sponsor Social Queen Hiring. Supporting these sponsors is local millinery expert Dianne Barbour. The MTC are thrilled to be able to continue supporting local businesses in the Riverina.
Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack is excited to see the launch of the Spring Racing season and the search for two remarkable people who will become Faces of the Carnival.
“I wholeheartedly encourage anyone who has passion and believes they have what it takes to be a Face of the Carnival to apply for this prestigious opportunity,” Mr McCormack said.
“Previous Faces of the Carnival have done a marvellous job at being community ambassadors for Wagga Wagga’s biggest social event.
“I eagerly look forward to the big reveal at Murrumbidgee Turf Club’s Xmas Party Day races on Saturday 30 November to see who these wonderful representatives will be.”
Now in its 23rd year, the Face of the Carnival search encourages locals to dress up, have fun and experience all that country racing has to offer, applications for this year’s search close on November 1.
Current FOTC Jess Knox commented on the year that was and encourages FOTC applications for 2025.
“Being the Face of the Carnival for 2024 has been the highlight of my year! Not only was it an excellent experience, but it was also so lovely to have the opportunity to build a relationship with the team at the MTC and to network with excellent businesses in Wagga Wagga.”
“I couldn’t recommend becoming an ambassador more to anyone wanting to get out there and embrace their true self whilst being a part of exceptional racing, fashion and entertainment.”
Current FOTC Mitchell Cawley encourages locals to step out of their comfort zone and try something new, “Being the face of the carnival was a great opportunity to step out of my comfort zone, experience the Wagga Cup carnival in a different fashion and meet people in the industry.”
The MTC look forward to the upcoming Spring Racing Carnival season and finding two new Faces of the Carnival ambassadors for 2025. To learn more about the 2024 Spring Racing Carnival and view a full calendar of race meetings visit: https://mtcwagga.com.au/racing-calendar/
The Murrumbidgee Turf Club (MTC) is honored to present one of the largest Agriculture social events in Australia, Aggies Race Day which continues to support the Wagga Agriculture Club (WAC) and wider community.
The MTC continue their ongoing partnership with the Wagga Agriculture Club (WAC) who began the race day initiative in 1989 to raise money for friend and fellow student Peter Worsley, who sustained spinal injuries from a rugby incident. Since then, the Wagga Agriculture Club has raised numerous funds for Peter and the wider WAC community.
The spring racing atmosphere kicks off at 12.00pm with a seven-race card giving opportunity for local and interstate horses to stretch their legs leading into the Spring Racing Carnival which includes eight days of racing at the MTC beginning on Saturday 21 September.
Straight from television fame will be this year’s Farmer Wants a Wife contestants who will be spotted on course throughout the day. Couples Daisy Lamb &Todd Melbourne, Sophie Trethowan & Dustin Waring will be in attendance as well as singles Bert Harris, Tom Boyer and Jamira Kelly, who may find love at the Murrumbidgee Turf Club.
The Fashions on the Fields competition will return with categories including Best Dressed Lady and Best Dressed Man which will take place after Race 2 (1.50pm) and Best Millinery and Best Dressed Couple which will take place after Race 3 (2.30pm).
The prize pool includes vouchers from local boutiques Texas Jane and Ted & Olive, clothing store Blowes, Ruby Woodlock Art, Riverina Co-op, and the William Farrer Hotel. Farmer wants a Wife contestants Daisy Lamb & Todd Melbourne will be presenting the Fashions on the Field prizes after each category.
Judges will include local style gurus Ivy Seddon from Texas Jane Boutique and Sarah Carey from Ted and Olive Boutique as well as local milliner Dianne Barbour. Registrations for Best Dressed Lady, Best Dressed Man, Best Millinery and Best Dressed couple are available next to the fashions stage after the first race.
Daisy Lamb is excited about attending the races and “loves having the opportunity to use momentum we have built through Farmer Wants a Wife to give back to country towns.”
MTC CEO Jason Ferrario is excited about the large crowds returning to the track after this year’s highly successful Wagga Gold Cup Carnival, “It’s great to see such enthusiasm from our local WAC committee on hosting the annual Aggies Race Day, The MTC is the perfect venue to host the biggest day in the Australian Agriculture social event calendar.”
WAC Race Day Committee President Josh Elworthy mentions the strong charity component and what it means for WAC member Peter Worsley, “It’s so great that we can continue our partnership with the MTC to raise funds for Peter Worsley, his family, and the wider WAC committee.”
“In 2023 we raised over $30,000 from the Race Day and we can’t wait to present Peter and his family with this year’s fundraising efforts.”
All venues will be in operation on course and bars will be operated via a drink ticket system located in key areas on course with cash and card accepted and will be in operation until 6.00pm. Drinks tickets priced at $5.50 per ticket.
There will be no shortage of entertainment with Aaron Oldaker in the WAC Marquee during the day and Paddy Wagon Band playing classics and getting the dancefloor going after the last.
Free buses will be available at the end of Aggies Race Day departing from the Slocum Street exit from 4.30pm and will do circuits downtown.
The Murrumbidgee Turf Club (MTC) is proud to sponsor three local riders and their horses to compete in this year’s Equimillion event hosted at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre from Friday 4 October to Monday 7 October.
The four-day event, hosted by Racing NSW, offers $1 million in prize money exclusively to Off The Track (retired) thoroughbred racehorses, who will compete in Dressage, Jumping, Eventing and Show Thoroughbred disciplines.
With close connections to the MTC, professional 5* event rider Jess Grosmann will compete with former Tim Donnelly trained Duchy of Cornwall, who finished his racing career in 2022. Jess, alongside her husband Matthew, operate Wadari Stables which is located 40kms out of Wagga. The couple and their young family manage racehorse spelling and pretraining, agistment and high-level performance horses.
Local trackwork rider and professional 4* event rider Bessie Dimery, will compete on former Tim Donnelly trained Participator who retired from racing in 2023. Living in Wagga, whilst pursuing a degree in Veterinary Science at Charles Sturt University, Bessie is an avid rider, training Off The Track thoroughbreds, as well as performance horses.
Euroa based horse trainer and professional 4* event rider, Sophie Fox, will compete on former Gary Colvin trained Cellar Champ and former Darrell Burnet trained I Am Richenuff. Sophie also pre-trains thoroughbreds for racing and enjoys schooling thoroughbreds in preparation for life after racing.
MTC CEO, Jason Ferrario, is looking forward to seeing the sponsored riders and horses compete at the Syndey International Equestrian Centre in early October.
“The MTC is delighted to sponsor local riders and former MTC trained horses in the Equimillion event. The event is a great opportunity for retired thoroughbreds to have a career away from the racetrack after their racing has finished and for riders to compete with the thoroughbreds, showcasing their versatility.”
“The Equimillion event is a great initiative run by Racing NSW and highlights the importance of the retraining and rehoming of thoroughbred horses after their racing career, as well as showcasing their elite athletic ability.”
This year’s Equimillion event has new free entry classes on offer and will attract thoroughbred horses which have retired from racing in the last 12 months.
The MTC is proud to be associated with such a great initiative and will watch on with great interest, to see Jess, Bessie and Sophie test their skills in partnership with their much-loved retired thoroughbreds.
The Murrumbidgee Turf Club (MTC) will pay tribute to 14-time Group 1 winning Jockey
Danny Beasley on Sunday August 11 at the MTC Danny Beasley Race Day.
Growing up locally in Wagga Wagga, Beasley has had an extraordinary career as a jockey
which has seen his career progress from the stables of Peter Maher to the Randwick stable
of Grahame Begg, whilst becoming a household name for leading female horse trainer Gai
Waterhouse.
Beasley’s success took off with his first Group 1 win in the VRC Newmarket Handicap on
Miss Pennymoney in 2000. Beasley then went on to have outstanding success with the Gai
Waterhouse trained Grand Armee, who he rode six of his seven Group One wins including
two Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Further successes included winning the 2001 Wagga Gold
Cup on Regal Touch, 2003 Golden Slipper on Polar Success, the 2003 Doncaster Mile on
Grand Armee and the 2006 Magic Millions 2YO Classic on Mirror Mirror.
After a long list of wins within Australian Racing, Beasley decided to make the move to
Singapore where Beasley spent 15 years in the saddle. After taking out the 2014 Raffles
Cup, aboard War Affair trained by Alvin Tan, Beasley made the move back to Australia with
his family in 2023.
With 1877 career wins of which 607 were attained in Singapore, Beasley has 24 Group 1’s
to his name which Beasley will now apply to his new career as a trainer. Based out of Wagga
Wagga Beasley is excited about his new career, “it’s exciting and something I have always
wanted to do post being a jockey”.
Beasley is looking forward to what the future holds and aims to be “really successful and competitive after achieving success at the highest level as a jockey and there is no doubt it’s achievable here as a trainer at the Murrumbidgee Turf Club”.
MTC CEO Jason Ferrario is thrilled to have Beasley training just across the road from the
MTC and is looking forward to “welcoming Danny and his team to the new stable complex
that is currently in the planning process”.
Beasley hopes to “evolve alongside the Murrumbidgee Turf Club and is looking forward to being the first tenant in the new stable complex”.
The MTC will reflect on Beasley’s career with a tribute video that will be played between
races four and five.
The Murrumbidgee Turf Club (MTC) is excited to host MTC Ladies Day on Saturday
May 25 which will see over 300 ladies make their way through the MTC Gates to
enjoy a day of fantastic local racing, great food, and fabulous company.
The Garden Party Precinct will be in full swing with the exclusive trackside area
reserved for ladies to enjoy their table of six, two bottles of wine plus a delicious
Cater House Picnic Box whilst also having access to the lolly bar, private bar and
Ladies Cup Day Sweep competition. Ladies will receive free entry on the day
courtesy of the MTC.
The six-race draw card will feature The Riverina Co-Op Ladies Day Cup with local
talent Kappy’s Angel and Nats Enough racing alongside Controversial Miss and
the Leon and Troy Corstens trained Zourata, making an exciting Sweep competition
for the ladies to enter.
The Fashions on the Field Precinct will take place on the Front Lawn and will
commence after Race 5 with host, Face of the Carnival Jess Knox and special
guest judge Kat Lemech who was named the Wagga Gold Cup Lady of the Day only
two weeks ago. Fashions on the Field categories include Most Fabulous Coat, Style Queen Prize
and Millinery Magic allowing ladies to get creative and have fun on stage.
MTC CEO Jason Ferrario is excited to host the annual race day welcoming ladies
back to the track not long after the Wagga Gold Cup, “It’s great to host Ladies Day
off the back of a highly successful Wagga Gold Cup Carnival and to see the
atmosphere is still alive out on the Front Lawn”.
MTC Marketing Manager Cass Writer is looking forward to the day and recommends
“grabbing your group of girls, dressing up and having fun!”.
Local Tarot Card reader, Fiona Tarot will be on course from 12.00pm to 4.30pm
giving complimentary readings to race goers as well as prize giveaways taking place
across the day with TAB Vouchers up for grabs alongside additional sponsor prizes.
Ladies will be able to dance the afternoon away with Michelle Robertson from
Who’s the Boss Party Band providing the live entertainment on the Front Lawn.
Gates will be open from 11.45am and tickets will be available at the gate for $10 with
the MTC Members and public outlets in operation
The Murrumbidgee Turf Club is honoured to present the annual Wagga Gold Cup Carnival featuring the Tooheys Town Plate Day on Thursday May 2 and the Lucas Road Sealing Wagga Gold Cup Day on Friday May 3 with just under $1 million dollars in prize money on offer across both days.
The Lucas Road Sealing Wagga Gold Cup Carnival is the biggest two-day carnival in country NSW, with the Showcase meeting offering a minimum of $30,000 in prize money for every race. The final field for the Wagga Gold Cup, Tooheys Town Plate and MTC Guineas will be locked away on Tuesday 1 May with a Barrier Draw at 10.00am to be conducted in the MTC Members Lounge.
The Autumn racing atmosphere kicks off on Tooheys Town Plate Day, which sees an eight-race card, with the feature race, the Tooheys Town Plate (1200m) worth $200,000 prize money. 2023 winner Mnementh will be back to defend his Town Plate title, whilst recent Newhaven Park Country Championship winner Asgarda is also nominated. Amongst the nominations are Group Three winner Crosshaven, dual Kosciuszko conqueror Front Page, newcomer to Matt Dale’s stable Gravina and impressive Hareeba Stakes winner Maharba.
With 10,000 patrons expected through the gates, the $200,000 Lucas Road Sealing Wagga Gold Cup (2000m) is the feature race with a strong support program featuring the $80,000 JRC Electrical Services MTC Guineas and the $75,000 Byrne Trailers Queen of the South.
The Tim Donnelly trained Cliff House will fly the flag for local runners in the Gold Cup, having won both the Albury Mile and Gundagai Cup to gain exemption, Chris Waller Racing have won four of the past six Cups and will be represented again whilst former winners Busuttin and Young Racing have several nominated runners. Previous Sydney and Brisbane Cup winner Knights Order is a likely runner for the Waterhouse and Bott stable whilst the Annabel Neasham stable has four runners nominated for a good chance in the Cup.
With exceptional racing comes brilliant talent as Lizzie Jelfs will be on course on Friday for the second year in a row conducting interviews, providing tips and engaging with the crowd. The 2024 Faces of the Carnival, Jess Knox and Mitchell Cawley, will be roaming on course with the talented Cut Above Media interviewing excited race goers over each day of the Carnival. The National Anthem will be sung by Rebecca Taber, who will set the tone for the horses to jump from the barriers for the 2024 Wagga Gold Cup at 4.15pm.
The Kristopher Graydon Jewellers Fashions on the Field precinct will include a prize pool of over $17,000 worth of prizes which is made up of donations from the generous Wagga community. Fashion Editor Damien Woolnough will sit amongst past Wagga Gold Cup Fashions on the Field winner Viera Macikova and Fashions on the Field Enthusiast Crystal Kimber- Peters who will, as a combination determine the Lady of the Day, Most Stylish Couple, Man of the Day, Contemporary and Millinery awards.
Murrumbidgee Turf Club CEO, Jason Ferrario is excited about the large crowds returning to the track for this year’s Carnival, “The atmosphere of the Gold Cup is unmatched to any other country race meet in NSW. With the great prize money on offer, the racing itself is always of the highest quality, with leading horses, trainers and jockeys competing across the two days”.
“Hospitality has again sold out in the weeks prior to Cup Day and general admission ticket sales at this time indicate another big crowd will be in attendance. The MTC recommends ticket purchases being made online, as this speeds up the entry process on race day”.
The Punters Podium will be in full swing across both days located near the main Grandstand with Sky Racing form expert Brodie Nickson providing race goers with tips and insights into each race as well as placing bets on behalf of the Punters Club. Shares can be purchased for $10.
There will be no shortage of entertainment with the Wagga All Stars Jazz Band captivating the crowd on the front lawn, Aaron Oldaker performing crowd favourites in the Tooheys Punters Paddock, as well as Radio Velvet who will keep the dance floor pumping after the last.
Gates open at 11.00am on both Thursday and Friday with bars in operation until 6.00pm. Free buses will be available on at the end of Cup Day departing from the Slocum Street exit from 4.30pm and will do circuits downtown where Tilly’s will be hosting the official Cup After Party.
Media Enquiries
Contact: MTC CEO Jason Ferrario, 0407 242 878.
Contact: MTC Public Relations Specialist Jemima Lyons, 0439 760 078.