Thangool acts to secure sponsors | Rockhampton Horses | Horse Riding, Horseback in Rockhampton

Thangool Race Club has launched a successful promotional package which should ensure that all races run at the well-appointed Ford Park complex are completely sponsored throughout the year.

The club races on seven occasions with five events on each race day card. Thangool’s feature race is the Thangool Cup (1600m) which is normally worth about $15,000 in prizemoney and run in late July or early August.

Tomorrow the club has a busy five-race program scheduled featuring 58 acceptors which is confirmation of the popularity of the Callide Valley circuit.

TRC president Pat Brennan said so far 30 business houses had signed off with the $770 sponsorship fee for races.

“I’m very confident we will finalise the sponsorship packages over the next few weeks. That means all of our 35 races run here will be sponsored. A draw will take place and the winner will have sponsorship naming rights to the time honoured Thangool Cup,” Brennan said.

Meanwhile, Rockhampton Jockey Club chairman (RJC) Justin Doyle said the executive-committee of his club would meet early next week to formalise details to be put to members on the proposed joint venture between his club and Queensland Racing Limited (QRL) for ownership of Callaghan Park racecourse.

“We did further negotiating with QRL and they have increased their previous offer. Now that is all done and dusted the next step will be to write to members and advise them of all details on the offer and the proposal. They should have that by the end of March,” Doyle said.

QRL proposes to take control of the Callaghan Park racetracks, stables and associated training facilities thereby freeing the RJC of burgeoning ongoing expenses to maintain the $6.5 million QRL funded new turf and sand tracks.

Originally QRL announced a compensation and cost savings package worth about $1.4 million to the RJC but it is believed this has risen substantially.

Yesterday, QRL scheduled jump-outs for two-year-olds on the Callaghan Park grass course proper over 550 metres to be run after the sand jump-outs for older horses there this morning.