Recognising the hard work and creativity of Buchan and Gelantipy Racing Club members, who continue to deliver a family friendly race day on the third Saturday of February each year, the club was recently awarded, once again, the Neville and Bev Seymour Picnic Club of the Year Award 2017/8 for clubs that hold one meeting a year.

The award is evaluated based on a set criteria, which covers items such as marketing initiatives, community engagement, race day delivery, attendance, membership growth, oncourse improvements and the like against previous seasons and the performance of other Victorian picnic racing clubs who hold one meeting a year. The club delivered a great day on February 17 this year, with something for the entire family. There was plenty of entertainment and activities, foot races, jumping castles, farm animals, fashions on the field, live music, prize giveaways, punters’ club, beverage and food stalls, bookmakers, plus six local races. The day attracted a record crowd for recent times with 1380 people turning out to support the day, which was held at the Canni Creek racecourse. The racecourse is situated within the picturesque hills of Buchan and its annual race meeting is a great trigger for people from far and wide to gather their family and friends and head out for a relaxed fun day of country racing. In addition to the social aspect, the Canni Creek races also play a valuable role in the local community as the club donates a large portion of the revenue it generates to local charities such as the Buchan Bush Nursing Centre, the Gelantipy Nursing Centre, the Buchan South Avenue of Honour and other local services, which it has been doing so over the club’s 131-year history.

“The club is excited to have won the award and it’s good recognition for all the time and effort put in to delivering a successful day from the Buchan and Gelantipy Racing Club committee who are all volunteers, friends of the club who volunteer their time, the local community who provide sponsorship support and the strong relationship that has developed between all the racing clubs within East Gippsland (Bairnsdale, Omeo and District, and Tambo Valley racing clubs) who are working together to grow our race days and deliver a great day out,” racing club manager, Ian Dunkley, said. The impressive glass trophy is displayed proudly at the Buchan Caves Hotel for the world to see. “If you haven’t been to the Canni Creek Races, it’s well worth the visit. The next race meeting is scheduled for Saturday, February 16, 2019,” Ian said.

VALE JOHN KEITH MILLBOURN

Buchan and Gelantipy Racing Club members were saddened to learn of the death of John Keith Millbourn on May 15. John was a long time trophy donor for the Canni Creek Races, usually a clock or a piece similarly impressive, and will be sadly missed.

Buchan and Gelantipy Racing Club recently won the 2015/16 Neville and Bev Seymour Picnic Club of the Year Award for clubs that hold one meeting a year.

The award is recognition for the hard work and creativity of the Buchan and Gelantipy Racing Club who delivered a family friendly race day. The award is evaluated based on a set criteria which covers items such as: marketing initiatives, community engagement, race day delivery, attendance, membership growth, oncourse improvements and the like against previous seasons and the performance of other Victoria picnic clubs who hold one meeting a year.

The club delivered a great day which covered the entire family, there was plenty of entertainment and activities, foot races, jumping castles, farm animals, food stalls, fashions on the field, live music, prize giveaways, punters club, off the bench marquee, beverage and food stalls, bookmakers, plus six local races. The day attracted a record crowd for recent times with 1210 people turning out to support the day, which was held at the Canni Creek racecourse.

The racecourse is situated within the picturesque hills of Buchan and its annual race meeting is a great trigger for people from far and wide to gather their family and friends and head out for a relaxed fun day of country racing.

In addition to the social aspect, the Canni Creek races also play a valuable role in the local community as the club donates a large portion of the revenue it generates to local charities such as the Buchan Bush Nursing Centre, the Gelantipy Nursing Centre, the- Buchan South Avenue of Honour and other local services which it has been doing so over the club’s 129-year history.

“If you haven’t been to the Canni Creek Races, it’s well worth the visit, their next race meeting is scheduled for Saturday, February 18, 2017,” racing club manager, Ian Dunkley, said.

“The club is excited to have won the award and it’s good recognition for all the time and effort put in to delivering a successful day from the Buchan and Gelantipy Racing Club committee who are all volunteers, friends of the club who volunteer their time, the local community who provide sponsorship support and the strong relationship that has developed between all the racing clubs within East Gippsland Racing Clubs (Bairnsdale Racing Club, Omeo and District Racing Club, Tambo Valley Racing Club) who are working together to grow our race days and deliver a great day out.”

Win's a walk in park

THE Buchan and Gelantipy Race Club ... nestled some 365 kilometres east of Melbourne, plugged in its generator and welcomed a record crowd of 1200 folk to its cup day on Saturday.

They came to an outback post, where the winner of the cup has to lick its lips to get the moisture to taste success, and walked away having watched Victoria's most successful horse this season, a new bush hero, continue a run that's the stuff of legends.

Trained by Kim and Gayle Mayberry of Pakenham and ridden by Gayle's daughter - Kim's stepdaughter - Stephanie Doming, five-year-old gelding King Can Sing made it seven wins for the season when he strolled home, as top-weight, in the Buchan Cup.

He lumbered a tree-trunk, a whopping 72 kilos to victory, won by six lengths, hard held, and ran 0.1 second slower than the 1700-metre track-record.

He could have smashed the record if Doming hadn't been so protective on a track that bordered on flint.

"We just brought a picnic horse to have a bit of fun with, we never expected this to happen," Gayle Mayberry said.

"We thought he was a bit vulnerable on Saturday, to be honest.

"He had an eight-day break in the· paddock and we weren't sure ifhe'd be fit enough to. run the trip.

"Steph got off and said it's the best he's ever felt, a horse that's been great for us is getting better."

King Can Sing has almost certainly cemented himself as Picnic Horse of the Year, but it's the impact he's having away from the track that has most surprised Mayberry.

"Racing Victoria has put together a video that they'll post this week and we're getting texts and e-mails asking where he's racing and how he's going," she said

"They (Buchan and Gelantipy) even used King Can Sing's appearance to promote the race on local radio, and they got a record crowd.

"We're very lucky; no amount of money can buy the ride this horse has given us."

For now, King Can Sing will go back to the picnics, a possible test over 2100-metres at Yea this Saturday could be the forerunner to a step up to the professional ranks and a crack at the provincials.

But the love of the horse is of most importance to Mayberry. "It's all very exciting but we have to remember where we've come from. The horses welfare will always come first. Remember, we only bought him to have fun at the picnics."

Article by David Nagel - Pakenham Gazette

Buchan and Gelantipy Racing Club secretary Ian Dunkley reported one of the best crowds ever last Saturday for the Canni Creek picnic race meet.
Good weather gave the spectators a lovely day. There were even quite a few campers and caravans on site for the event.
Excellent racing on the day saw some good times run, and stiff competition.
It was good to see so many local trainers and owners represented on the day, even though the cup went to a Sale horse, Haka Brave, for trainer Cliff Murray and jockey Cory Jones, who outrode his apprentice claim on the day with one winner and two seconds.
Another apprentice jockey, Jarrod Lynch also had a good day, riding the first three winners.
Gippsland picnic racing now has two more meetings for the season to prepare for Hinnomunjie on Saturday, March 10 and Swift’s Creek on Sunday, April 8.
Bairnsdale racing has its next meeting set for Saturday, April 7.
Contributed by Margaret Scott.

The Canni Creek Picnic Races were held last Saturday with Sale horse Haka Brave taking out the top prize. Trainer Cliff Murray and strapper Kylie Gilbert with Haka Brave.