Geraldton Turf Club host final meet of successful 2024-25 racing season
The Geraldton Turf Club is preparing to host its final meet of a very successful 2024-25 season, with healthy attendance numbers and a track that held together for 20 meets.
Club president Brian O'Dwyer said the season was a success as the club overcame issues on the track to turn in one of its best Geraldton Cup days in recent history.
'This season was a very successful one on and off the track,' he said.
'Attendance numbers were great throughout the season, in particular our bigger days — Walkaway Cup, Ladies Day, Melbourne Cup Day and Geraldton Cup Day.
'Seeing young people still enjoying racing means we can look forward to the future and to see them attending our meets is really good to see for the sport here.'
The club's biggest hurdle in 2024-25 was when the aged irrigation system blew on a handful of occasions, leaving it walking on eggshells as they continued with the season, postponing only one meet.
With Labor backflipped on funding to upgrade infrastructure close to the State election, the turf club was forced think of a Plan B, but Labor reversed its decision after many clubs spoke out in protest.
O'Dwyer said all things considered, to come out the other side relatively unscathed was lucky but also a show of the strength of the community in racing.
'We faced those challenges only a matter of weeks before the Geraldton Cup,' he said.
'To be able to produce the track that we did for our biggest day of the year, given our circumstances only a matter of weeks beforehand, was pleasing to see.
'The racing community rallied to get that funding back and we did, which is pleasing for us, knowing that the racing community are behind us.'
Now the focus shifts to the club's last meet of the year this Sunday as the 20-meet season draws to a close.
Race of the day looks to be race six, with Jockey of the Year at Geraldton and Provincial Jockey of the year Tash Faithfull headlining proceedings on board Ron Cowl's Sanabeau.
Julia Martin and jockey Kristy Bennett join forces once more to round off the season with Miff Muffered Moof, who has continued to be one to look out for over the middle distances.
Gordon Spowart's Skittish runs out of a favorable barrier three with Troy Turner taking the reins. Another jockey who has proven his worth this season on the Geraldton track is Austin Galati, who will be racing with trainer Kevin Mahoney on Kentucky Blue out of barrier two.
Entry is free, with the gates opening at noon on Sunday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
7 days ago
- ABC News
No-confidence motion passed on Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff. What next?
If you've missed the past few days, Tasmania could be headed for a fourth election in just seven years, after a successful no-confidence motion in Premier Jeremy Rockliff passed on Thursday. The motion — put forward by Labor, passed 18 to 17 — after about 10 hours of debate over two days, where all 35 lower house MPs spoke. It had the backing of the Greens, as well as crossbenchers Andrew Jenner, Kristie Johnston and Craig Garland. The path forward for Tasmania is unclear … and a lot of questions remain. Yes. Mr Rockliff has stared down this motion as well as calls for him to hand over the leadership reins to one of his colleagues. He's determined to leave his fate in the hands of Tasmanians, not the parliament. Not definitely, but probably. The premier says he will be asking Governor Barbara Baker (who's taken a very poorly timed holiday but will be back soon) to dissolve the parliament. Given we're just 15 months into the parliament, Governor Baker could first ask Labor's Dean Winter to see if he can form government — but he's ruled out doing so with the support of the Greens, which he would need in order to get to 18 seats. She also might check if there's another Liberal MP who could command the support of the parliament. At this stage though, none of them have the will (or maybe the numbers in the party room) to roll their leader. The earliest an election could be held is July 19. There needs to be at least 33 days between when the parliament is dissolved and polling day. Parliament could be dissolved on Tuesday, after the premier requests for the appropriation bills to be passed that will provide the government with the funds to pay the bills. Tasmania's AFL club is in serious danger of never taking to the field. In recent days, club leaders have been voicing concerns about the impact of an early election, because it would push out the timelines for the construction of the proposed Macquarie Point stadium. A vote was due in the parliament on whether to approve the stadium in coming months. The stadium is a condition of the state's deal for the 19th AFL licence, but there's the potential it may not survive an election if it's seen as too politically toxic by either of the major parties. It's also possible a swathe of anti-stadium MPs could also be voted to the parliament, if an election is called, and end its chances. Club presidents watching from afar haven't been impressed either. Labor leader Dean Winter says he moved the no-confidence motion as he couldn't "stand idly by" and let the state's debt mount. Tasmania's debt will hit $5.2 billion this year, and is due to more than double by 2029. It wasn't clear when that debt would stop growing either. The treasurer's plan to get the budget back in black included slimming the public service and potentially selling public assets, both options opposed by the opposition. Labor's no-confidence motion also listed the government's failure to deliver major infrastructure projects, namely the Spirit of Tasmania vessel replacement debacle. That project saw new ferries purchased without the necessary berth for them to dock at Devonport, meaning they can't be used for some years. The state budget handed down by Treasurer Guy Barnett last week hasn't been passed by the parliament yet. There are some provisions in the Financial Management Act that allow for the money to continue flowing, but they only allow for about two months. It won't be a full budget but will ensure critical services can continue and public servants like park rangers, nurses, and court staff can continue to be paid. Given the uncertainty over the situation … the premier has sought approval from the lieutenant-governor, who is acting in Governor Baker's absence, for the parliament to return on Tuesday, and for a bill to be passed that will allow the money to keep flowing. The opposition has also agreed to this and will support that bill. Tasmania is gaining a reputation for instability, and an election after just 15 months is unheard of in modern times. But it's nothing compared to some of the short-lived parliaments and governments of the past. Election analyst Kevin Bonham said this would be the second shortest parliament, after one elected in 1912, which lasted just 14 months. Meanwhile, in 1909, the Labour government lasted a week. As an extra kick in the guts to those who think MPs have been a rabble this week … politicians are now likely to get a $30,000 pay rise. Tasmania's Industrial Commission recommended a 22.36 per cent pay rise to the base rate of about $140,000, which has been frozen since 2018. It says that's in line with inflation and the wage rises. It could have been disallowed by a vote of both parliamentary houses, and on Tuesday the premier said he would move to block it. That now appears unlikely, unless it can somehow be added to Tuesday's order of business. It might help fund some campaigns!
West Australian
05-06-2025
- West Australian
Eddie McGuire: Tasmania warned to build Hobart stadium or new AFL team could go elsewhere
Former Collingwood Football Club president Eddie McGuire has a blunt message for Tasmania: if you don't want a team in the Australian Football League, the competition has other options. As the Tasmanian parliament debates whether to bring down its Liberal government, potentially ending prospects of the Devils becoming the league's 19th team, Mr McGuire slammed critics of plans to build a football stadium in Hobart for the team. 'What Tasmania doesn't need is every week to have an advertisement that they are a second-rate state,' he told The Nightly. 'I think Tasmania deserves to be finally seen for the great state that it is.' Even though the government and Labor opposition support building the stadium, Tasmania faces a $1 billion budget deficit next financial year. The deficit has added to pressure to cancel the project, which the AFL has made a condition of allowing the team into the competition in 2028. The parliament is expected to vote on Thursday afternoon to dismiss Premier Jeremy Rockliff. It is not clear if Labor leader Dean Winter has enough votes to take over, and the acting governor may call an election, which would likely be fought over the $945 million stadium, which critics say the state cannot afford. 'An election would certainly put the full formation of the team and the issuance of a licence at risk,' Tasmania Devils chief executive Brendon Gale said. Mr McGuire, one of the AFL leaders who approved the expansion, said the island state's existing football ovals were 'fourth rate' and would not attract enough spectators, including Victorians who would want to fly to Hobart to see their teams play. 'You want to be careful 18 club presidents don't sit down and say 'we will be be $400 million better off' without the team,' he said. 'There is a fair bit of investment from the AFL. It will probably cost $30 million a year. If you start saying no and it becomes too much of a pain in the neck, people may say: 'We could have a third team in Perth, or one of the central coast of NSW, or Darwin or Alice Springs. We need to get on it with or go to plan B.' 'The whole philosophy of this exercise was to take it to world-class level rather than having a game of footy in the wind and rain. The teams need to look like Collingwood at the MCG, Adelaide at Adelaide Oval or Brisbane at the new Olympic stadium.' The Liberal Party won an election in Tasmania 16 months ago, but defections have left it without a majority in parliament. Most MPs have indicated they plan to vote against a 'confidence' motion in the government today, a step that requires the premier or resign or seek a new election. It will be up to Lieutenant Governor Christopher Shanahan, the state's top judge, to decide whether to grant the request. Both sides traded barbs on Thursday morning. 'This has been a selfish grab for power,' Mr Rockliff said. Mr Winter, the Labor leader, said: We are going to an election because the Liberals have broken the budget and want to sell off Tasmania's assets.' Complicating the situation, Parliament has not passed a budget for next year, which means there is no legal provision to pay public servants from July 1.
The Advertiser
04-06-2025
- The Advertiser
Tears flow as Devils boss stays defiant on AFL future
Amid fear and tears for their future, the Tasmania Devils are also defiant and bullishly optimistic they are on track to become the AFL's 19th team. The state's Labor opposition is poised to pass a no-confidence motion against Liberal premier Jeremy Rockliff, which could endanger the Devils club. It comes as Rockliff faces increasing heat over his party's financial management and plans for a new stadium in Hobart. The proposed 23,000-seat roofed venue at Macquarie Point in Hobart is a contractual condition of the Devils' entry into the AFL in 2028. Tasmania's political uncertainty casts doubt on the timing of the stadium's construction and this could be a killer blow for the new team. In a statement on Wednesday, Tasmania Football Club said the turmoil presented a "serious risk" to its future. A group of key Devils figures on Wednesday pleaded for politicians to put aside their differences for the sake of the club. Kath McCann, the club's general manager of marketing, corporate affairs and social impact, was reduced to tears. "This club is powered by our future generations; by our kids and by our grandkids," McCann said. "What this looks like is uncertainty, what it looks like is a risk to invest, what it looks like is a state not unified, and I think we're better than that," McCann said. "And I think our leaders need to think about the consequences of their actions. Later on Wednesday, Devils chief executive Brendon Gale struck a more upbeat tone, noting the challenges but defiantly spruiking the team's creation was running ahead of schedule. Like McCann, he noted the benefits of an AFL team in Tasmania and what the new stadium would mean. "As far as we're concerned, it's business as usual. We're getting on with the business - we have to - of building an organisation and building teams," Gale told Fox Footy's AFL360. "Clearly our existence is conditional upon the delivery of a stadium." Gale added the AFL stadium deal with the Tasmanian government was outside the team's control and the Devils must get on with building the new club. "It's a huge responsibility, but a great opportunity as well. We strongly believe in the power of this team - it's not about football ... to lift this whole state and we believe in that. "You just saw the response of Kath McCann. It's a responsbility that sits heavily with us. "We're a team by Tasmania, we're a team for Tasmania and we're a team that, we absolutely believe, can lift Tasmania." Gale also noted the stadium has support from Labor. "But I guess it (the no-confidence motion) has sparked this chain reaction. "There's some uncertainty at the moment, but we're very optimistic about the future." Gale also noted the difficulty of selling the new stadium to the Tasmanian voters. "There's no good time to build a stadium, around the world," he said. "They're always big, they're expensive and there's always a whole range of other priorities, so they're difficult things. "It's a big cost, but it's a huge investment, really important." Devils ambassador Jack Riewoldt said club officials remained focused on delivering success for their 210,000 members, despite the ongoing uncertainty. The Tasmania product and Richmond triple-premiership star did not want to contemplate a future where the Devils don't exist. "It would be a big opportunity lost," Riewoldt said. The slated cost of the waterfront Macquarie Point stadium has blown out to $945 million, up from the previous estimate of $755 million and the original figure of $715 million. Cricket Australia has also raised concerns about the proposed hatched roof design, which it says will prevent daylight cricket being played at the venue because of shadows cast on the field. "In its current format, it doesn't pass," Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg told AAP last Friday. "So they've got to do some more work in order to satisfy us and satisfy cricket that the stadium can accommodate us." Amid fear and tears for their future, the Tasmania Devils are also defiant and bullishly optimistic they are on track to become the AFL's 19th team. The state's Labor opposition is poised to pass a no-confidence motion against Liberal premier Jeremy Rockliff, which could endanger the Devils club. It comes as Rockliff faces increasing heat over his party's financial management and plans for a new stadium in Hobart. The proposed 23,000-seat roofed venue at Macquarie Point in Hobart is a contractual condition of the Devils' entry into the AFL in 2028. Tasmania's political uncertainty casts doubt on the timing of the stadium's construction and this could be a killer blow for the new team. In a statement on Wednesday, Tasmania Football Club said the turmoil presented a "serious risk" to its future. A group of key Devils figures on Wednesday pleaded for politicians to put aside their differences for the sake of the club. Kath McCann, the club's general manager of marketing, corporate affairs and social impact, was reduced to tears. "This club is powered by our future generations; by our kids and by our grandkids," McCann said. "What this looks like is uncertainty, what it looks like is a risk to invest, what it looks like is a state not unified, and I think we're better than that," McCann said. "And I think our leaders need to think about the consequences of their actions. Later on Wednesday, Devils chief executive Brendon Gale struck a more upbeat tone, noting the challenges but defiantly spruiking the team's creation was running ahead of schedule. Like McCann, he noted the benefits of an AFL team in Tasmania and what the new stadium would mean. "As far as we're concerned, it's business as usual. We're getting on with the business - we have to - of building an organisation and building teams," Gale told Fox Footy's AFL360. "Clearly our existence is conditional upon the delivery of a stadium." Gale added the AFL stadium deal with the Tasmanian government was outside the team's control and the Devils must get on with building the new club. "It's a huge responsibility, but a great opportunity as well. We strongly believe in the power of this team - it's not about football ... to lift this whole state and we believe in that. "You just saw the response of Kath McCann. It's a responsbility that sits heavily with us. "We're a team by Tasmania, we're a team for Tasmania and we're a team that, we absolutely believe, can lift Tasmania." Gale also noted the stadium has support from Labor. "But I guess it (the no-confidence motion) has sparked this chain reaction. "There's some uncertainty at the moment, but we're very optimistic about the future." Gale also noted the difficulty of selling the new stadium to the Tasmanian voters. "There's no good time to build a stadium, around the world," he said. "They're always big, they're expensive and there's always a whole range of other priorities, so they're difficult things. "It's a big cost, but it's a huge investment, really important." Devils ambassador Jack Riewoldt said club officials remained focused on delivering success for their 210,000 members, despite the ongoing uncertainty. The Tasmania product and Richmond triple-premiership star did not want to contemplate a future where the Devils don't exist. "It would be a big opportunity lost," Riewoldt said. The slated cost of the waterfront Macquarie Point stadium has blown out to $945 million, up from the previous estimate of $755 million and the original figure of $715 million. Cricket Australia has also raised concerns about the proposed hatched roof design, which it says will prevent daylight cricket being played at the venue because of shadows cast on the field. "In its current format, it doesn't pass," Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg told AAP last Friday. "So they've got to do some more work in order to satisfy us and satisfy cricket that the stadium can accommodate us." Amid fear and tears for their future, the Tasmania Devils are also defiant and bullishly optimistic they are on track to become the AFL's 19th team. The state's Labor opposition is poised to pass a no-confidence motion against Liberal premier Jeremy Rockliff, which could endanger the Devils club. It comes as Rockliff faces increasing heat over his party's financial management and plans for a new stadium in Hobart. The proposed 23,000-seat roofed venue at Macquarie Point in Hobart is a contractual condition of the Devils' entry into the AFL in 2028. Tasmania's political uncertainty casts doubt on the timing of the stadium's construction and this could be a killer blow for the new team. In a statement on Wednesday, Tasmania Football Club said the turmoil presented a "serious risk" to its future. A group of key Devils figures on Wednesday pleaded for politicians to put aside their differences for the sake of the club. Kath McCann, the club's general manager of marketing, corporate affairs and social impact, was reduced to tears. "This club is powered by our future generations; by our kids and by our grandkids," McCann said. "What this looks like is uncertainty, what it looks like is a risk to invest, what it looks like is a state not unified, and I think we're better than that," McCann said. "And I think our leaders need to think about the consequences of their actions. Later on Wednesday, Devils chief executive Brendon Gale struck a more upbeat tone, noting the challenges but defiantly spruiking the team's creation was running ahead of schedule. Like McCann, he noted the benefits of an AFL team in Tasmania and what the new stadium would mean. "As far as we're concerned, it's business as usual. We're getting on with the business - we have to - of building an organisation and building teams," Gale told Fox Footy's AFL360. "Clearly our existence is conditional upon the delivery of a stadium." Gale added the AFL stadium deal with the Tasmanian government was outside the team's control and the Devils must get on with building the new club. "It's a huge responsibility, but a great opportunity as well. We strongly believe in the power of this team - it's not about football ... to lift this whole state and we believe in that. "You just saw the response of Kath McCann. It's a responsbility that sits heavily with us. "We're a team by Tasmania, we're a team for Tasmania and we're a team that, we absolutely believe, can lift Tasmania." Gale also noted the stadium has support from Labor. "But I guess it (the no-confidence motion) has sparked this chain reaction. "There's some uncertainty at the moment, but we're very optimistic about the future." Gale also noted the difficulty of selling the new stadium to the Tasmanian voters. "There's no good time to build a stadium, around the world," he said. "They're always big, they're expensive and there's always a whole range of other priorities, so they're difficult things. "It's a big cost, but it's a huge investment, really important." Devils ambassador Jack Riewoldt said club officials remained focused on delivering success for their 210,000 members, despite the ongoing uncertainty. The Tasmania product and Richmond triple-premiership star did not want to contemplate a future where the Devils don't exist. "It would be a big opportunity lost," Riewoldt said. The slated cost of the waterfront Macquarie Point stadium has blown out to $945 million, up from the previous estimate of $755 million and the original figure of $715 million. Cricket Australia has also raised concerns about the proposed hatched roof design, which it says will prevent daylight cricket being played at the venue because of shadows cast on the field. "In its current format, it doesn't pass," Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg told AAP last Friday. "So they've got to do some more work in order to satisfy us and satisfy cricket that the stadium can accommodate us."
