St Pats Race Club Broken Hill
Description
Next Race Meeting - Saturday 18th March 2017 The Broken Hill St Patrick’s Race Club began in 1965 when John Toms, a well known local trainer thought of an idea to boost local racing and help alleviate the desperate financial position of the local Catholic schools.
During a game of golf with Catholic administrator, Father Pat Murray, John suggested that by using volunteer labour from within the Catholic School system, they could establish an annual race meeting. The event would include attractive prize money, trophies, food and drink and later – fashions of the field. Excited by the prospect, they talked the idea over with other racing enthusiasts. A committee was formed to draw up plans for the inaugural race meeting to be held on Saturday 19 March 1966.
The innovative venture captured the imagination of Broken Hill. The committee met for the first time on Wednesday 15th September 1965. The executive committee comprised:
President: Dr G Ormandy
Asst Secretary: Mr J Toms
Secretary: Mr W Baldwin
Treasurer: Mr P Boyd
The inspirational foresight of John Toms and the Irish persuasion of Father Murray lead to the Broken Hill becoming host to the most widely publicised and richest “one day country race meeting” in Australia. There can be no doubt that neither John Toms nor Father Murray could have envisaged the great tourist potential that the St Patrick’s Race Meeting would become for the city of Broken Hill and its community.
Today the phenominal success of the St Pat's race meeting continues.
Previously held 2 weeks prior to Easter, in 2002 and 2003, the club secured a TAB date to race four weeks before Easter. The race date has now been returned to its original concept of two weeks before Easter from 2004 onwards.
Today, local sporting groups and charity organisations provide staff for race day services in return for payment. The widespread benefits from the race day now assist not only the Catholic Schools but also, many other local non-profit organisations.
The inaugural race meeting offered prize money and trophies of $2280 for five races. Today prize money, trophies and rebates of $150,000 for an eight race program continues to draw trainers and race day patrons to our city from every state in Australia.
The efforts of the past and present committees have been recognised at the New South Wales Country Racing Council “Awards for Excellence” on two occasions when the Broken Hill St Patrick’s Race Club received the awards for the Best Non-TAB New South Wales Country Race Meeting for 1998/99 and 2000/2001.
In presenting the awards to the Club, Mr Ken Brown, Director General of the New South Wales Department of Gaming and Racing commented on the significance of the event to the Broken Hill community, and the voluntary contribution of the members of the committee.
St Pat’s reputation as a great event has also been acknowledged by the “Keep Australia Beautiful Council” when it awarded the Club its annual award for “Best Community Event” in the 2000 Tidy Towns Competition.
Tell your friends
RECENT FACEBOOK POSTS
facebook.comAmanda Johnson's fabulous painting will be the centre piece of our 2018 poster. The theme is fashion with some of the familiar faces of race goers.
Not long now until the 2018 poster is unveiled 😊🐴 Amanda Johnson Artist said she was honoured to have been asked to create the artwork. 📷 Lauren Byrne Photography
The committee of the St Pat's Race Club is saddened to hear of the passing of our first race club secretary and former president Bill Baldwin. Bill returned to Broken Hill from his home in Perth for the 50th race meeting in 2015.
To book a place please call or email - 08 8087 7550 / admin@stpatricks.org.au
The committee of the St Pat's Race Club extend our sympathy to the family of Doctor Gordon Ormandy who passed away on 22nd December 2017. Doctor Ormandy was the first president of the St Pat's Race Club and the clubs first life member, he served as president for 10 years. Our thoughts are with his wife Joy and family.
Hats n Heels High Tea is on again at the Broken Hill Sturt Club 17th February at 2pm, $70 per head Gourmet Food, Champagne, Hot & Cold Teas To book a place please call or email - 08 8087 7550 / admin@stpatricks.org.au
Not long now until the 2018 race meet! For all booking inquiries - 08 8087 7550
The Broken Hill Community Credit Union has launched their facebook page. They want you to upload you best photos of Broken Hill for a chance to win some cool prizes.
A new era has begun at the St Pats Race Club with Allan Carter elected as the President of the race club. Congratulations from the committee. 🐎
The St Pat’s office on Crystal Street will open on Tuesday 7th November. Call in and say hi to Lyn and grab your membership and book marquee and picnic sites.
WINX has cemented her place as one of the all-time greats of Australian racing, winning the $3 million WS Cox Plate for the third year in a row. In joining Kingston Town as a three-time winner of Australia’s most prestigious weight-for-age race, Winx also took her sequence to 22 consecutive victories. Winx also overtook Makybe Diva as Australia’s highest stakes earner when she held off Humidor in a closer-than-expected finish.
Boom Time has produced a stunning run to win the $3 million Group One Caulfield Cup. The galloper — trained by David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig — won from Single Gaze and favourite Johannes Vermeer.