Community & Business
11 February, 2026
$37K raised for Jessica Tink at races
Saturday’s Tooraweenah Cup race meeting at Gilgandra Racecourse had fame, fundraising and fun.
Saturday’s Tooraweenah Cup race meeting had a little bit of everything, with more than $37,000 raised set to benefit a local mother in need.
A key focus of the February 7 Gilgandra TAB racing meeting was the charity auction and fundraiser organised to support Jessica Tink.
Jessica went into hospital for surgery in April 2025 to treat excessive fluid build up and pressure around her brain. She then suffered a life-threatening bleed on her brain and has since battled complication upon complication. Now she is unable to walk or have any functional use with her left arm.
Funds raised will go towards helping Jess and her family secure a suitable pre-modified wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
A live auction with numerous items and packages was held throughout the day, beginning around 11am with a band and live auctioneers, well before the racing commenced at 2.26pm.
Gilgandra Jockey Club president Jason Tate said an early indication from the family had the amount fundraised at $37,000. The mix of crowd also made for a great day.
Busloads of people travelled from Tooraweenah and Coonabarabran to support the event, with Jess Tink originally from Coonabarabran. There was also musical tributes from the various members of Dusty Boots on Parade, and Wiradjuri Rabbs Entertainment.
“We had the crowd here, for the fundraiser, then the racing crowd turned up a little bit later, and that just enhanced the experience for everyone, and everyone was so generous,” Jason said.
On top of the final fundraising figure, Gilgandra Jockey Club will also donate gate takings, minus expenses, from the event to the Tink family. That figure will be known in the near future.
“It was a great crowd,” Jason said. “Everyone was sort of tucked up under marquees with the rain up behind the bar there where the band area was and everyone had a great time. They all danced all day, had a great time and gave to a worthy course.”
On track, the highlight was Scone father-and-daughter training combination Brett and Georgie Cavanough winning races one and two with Protectionism ($9) and Proclivity ($7) respectively. The famous owner, Gerry Harvey of Harvey Norman fame, wasn’t trackside but would no doubt have been happy.
“Good solid racing, throughout the day,” Jason said. “Brett and Georgie Cavanough rained first two winners.
“Both horses were owned by Mr Gerry Harvey himself. Gerry wasn't on course, obviously, but he runs a few horses with those trainers. So he got the first two.”
Rain started to fall just after 2pm and eventually stewards were forced to cancel the final race of the day and the feature, the $20,000 Tooraweenah Cup.
“It started to rain just before race one and sort of was steady all day,” Jason said.
“The track was still good underfoot for the horses, but the jockeys couldn't see because of the kickbacks, especially the horses getting back in the run.
“Jockeys were getting covered with mud and couldn't see where they were going. So, unfortunately, they had to cancel the last race for safety reasons.”
The Gilgandra Jockey Club generally has four races a year, the two-race Christmas/New Year carnival before the Tooraweenah Cup in February and the Collie Cup in August.
There were immediate plans to race the Tooraweenah Cup at Orange’s meeting held yesterday (Monday, February 9), but these were shelved.
Now, the Gilgandra Jockey Club wishes to make the abandoned feature race a part of the upcoming Collie Cup meeting at Gilgandra in August.
That August meeting now looks set to feature two cups, the Collie Cup and the Tooraweenah Cup.
Jason Tate was happy with a good day of the racing and the support the community could offer Jessica Tink.
“I’d like to thank all the sponsors for the day, especially the (Mountain View) Tooraweenah Hotel. Obviously, their race didn't get run (Tooraweenah Cup),” Jason said.
“I’d like to thank the committee members and the executive for all the massive effort they put in for the last few days to get everything set up. There's a lot of work that goes in behind the scenes.
“The crowd, the barrier attendants, the, clerks of the course. Everyone with the auction and entertainment. We thank everyone involved on the day, and we'll see them all again in August.”
