CLIFFORD PARK RACING AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Clifford Park’s biggest and brightest stars were awarded on Saturday night at the annual Ladbrokes 2015/16 Clifford Park Racing Awards.

Superstar and Queen of Clifford Park, jockey Skye Bogenhuber, made it a record five-in-a-row with her Premiership win.

After clinching this year’s – and his first – Audi Centre Toowoomba Weetwood Handicap, local trainer Tony Sears, was thrilled to be awarded the Premiership Trainer of the Year honour.

Clifford Park also honoured a great champion of the community and the sport, Chronicle sports journalist, Glen McCullough.

The Ladbrokes Clifford Park Racing Awards celebrated all 2015/16 premiership winners, together with a number of industry awards for exceptional achievements at Clifford Park, highlighted by the naming of the 2015/16 Clifford Park Horse of the Year.

Top achievers were recognised in the following categories;

  • Horse of the Year – Choice Bro
  • Industry Contributor – Glen McCullough (sports journalist, The Chronicle)
  • Strike Rate Trainer – Paul Facoory
  • Strike Rate Owner – Richard Carseldine
  • Bookmakers Award – Don’tcryargentina (owned by Bryan Azel)
  • Apprentice Jockey of the Year – Joshua Oliver
  • Premiership Owner of the Year – Bradley Facoory
  • Premiership Jockey of the Year – Skye Bogenhuber
  • Premiership Trainer of the Year – Tony Sears

 

The 2015/16 racing season concluded on July 31 and the Clifford Park premiership winners were confirmed at the final race meeting on July 30.

Clifford Park also played host to racing identity Peter Moody (trainer of the legendary Black Caviar) as guest speaker – thanks to the awards night’s major sponsor, Ladbrokes. Moody is a Ladbrokes ambassador.

TTC Chief Executive Officer Blair Odgers was thrilled with the turnout for this year’s awards ceremony.

“Toowoomba should be extremely proud of what our local industry participants have not only achieved locally, but also at metropolitan and Group level.”

“Saturday night was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our top performers both on and off the track,” Odgers said.

The next race meeting at Clifford Park will be the running of the Queensland Truck Centre Pat O’Shea Plate – the first two-year-old race for the Australiasian season. The race evening is named in honour of late resident race-caller, Pat O’Shea. O’Shea’s family are hosting a fundraising event in the Wippells Autos Grande Marquee on the evening, with monies being donated to St Andrew’s Hospital.

The race evening will feature the “My Pizza Rulz” competition – where families are encouraged to come along, build their own pizza and have it cooked in on-site pizza ovens. Judges will be on-hand and the winning pizza will earn a weekend away at the Landmark Resort on the Sunshine Coast.

Released: September 5, 2016