By JACINTA CUMMINS
MORE than 2000 revellers from as far away as Cooktown, Mackay and Winton descended on Taroom for the D & E Murray Builders New Year’s Day race meeting.
Taroom is one of only four racetracks in Queensland to race anti-clockwise as it was surveyed by the same surveyor who surveyed the Moonee Valley racetrack in Victoria in 1883.
The threat of rain brought the race schedule forward, but the clouds held off allowing for a beautiful day of summer racing without the high temperatures experienced earlier that week.
Dawson Jockey Club past president Graham Rewald said the field was a good average with only a few scratchings due to being a jockey short.
“The track was a good four and the race results were shared around by the trainers and jockeys,” he said.
A1 Gabby Cheesman, Emerald, and Isabella Hanson, Theodore. 
A2 Mackenzie Leeson, Moura, Isabella Hanson, Theodore, Jorja Luck, Dingo, and Gabby Cheesman, Emerald. 
Alicia Saville, Dirranbandi and Will Hacker, Muckadilla. 
Alicia Saville, Dirranbandi, Elizabeth Reis, Toowoomba, Louise Wagner, Toowoomba, and Sarah Mayne, Bonshaw. 
Best Dressed Lady Aiva Williams, Aramac 
Best Dressed Lady Aiva Williams, Aramac 
Cassandra and Leah Kath, Forsayth. 
Cody Hill, Clarke Creek and Jasper Dando, Brisbane. 
Georgia Otto, Emerald and Remy Streeter, Marlborough. 
Laura Maeyke and Carly Augustine. 
Riley Flynn, Miles, Chloe Scott, Emerald and Mikayla Davey, Stanthorpe.
Jockey Robert Faehr took out Race 5 The Taroom Welding Worx Des Johnson Memorial on Try To Be Good trained by Warwick’s Michael Hemmings.
This was a return to form for the five year old gelding which had had a disappointing run recently after winning the QTIS Maiden Plate at Chinchilla in November, 2021.
Dawson Jockey Club President David Parry-Okeden said despite the challenges posed by Covid-19, the race meet was very successful.
“This is a highlight on the country racing calendar and it is great to see more and more young people making the trip and to hear them say that it’s one of their must attend events,” he said.
“We’ve had to adjust how we move forward with Covid, but our patrons respected this which made the day run a lot smoother.
“The races are only possible due to our generous sponsors and the tireless behind the scenes work by our committee and all our other volunteers so thank you to anyone who assisted.”
