Race program continuity and the festive time of the year helped contribute to yet another successful Gilgandra Jockey Club (GJC) New Year’s Carnival, GJC president Jason Tate believes.
Tate commented after this year’s carnival which was headlined by Just Go Bang’s win in the 2025 Gilgandra Services Club Gilgandra Cup (1600m) on Sunday, January 5 at Gilgandra Racecourse.
Just Go Bang is trained at Queanbeyan by Nick Olive and was ridden to success by jockey Kody Nestor.
It was Olive’s first trip to Gilgandra and Just Go Bang’s eighth race win in a 21-start career that has netted $170,240 for connections.
The Gilgandra Services Club Gilgandra Cup was one of two $50,000 races on the eight-race card on January 5 where a combined $295,000 of prize money was up for grabs.
The Country and Western/Yellowstone fancy dress-themed New Year’s meet on Saturday, December 28 attracted an approximate crowd of between 550 to 600 people.
Race-day two of the carnival on Sunday, January 5 was for more serious racing enthusiasts but still attracted around 350 attendees.
The New Year’s Carnival combines two of Gilgandra’s four scheduled annual meetings.
February’s Tooraweenah Cup is the next GJC meeting with the Collie Cup generally held in August. It means every race-day has importance attached to it.
Tate, who has been GJC president for around five years, said the continuity and importance of the GJC program helps makes for successful meetings.
“Everyone is fresh after a little break and some cheer at Christmas time,” Tate said.
“People are in a jovial mood and willing to come out and have a good day at the races and I think that contributes to the success of the carnival.”
Locally, Kieren Hazelton had a win with Order of Merit at the Saturday, December 28 meeting in the Projence Benchmark 50 Handicap (1280m).
War Toy also finished third for trainer Hazelton in the same race.
Another local horse, The Hulkbuster, trained by Gaye-Lee Burgers, finished fifth, putting three Gilgandra runners in the top five.
Beg Me went close to a placing with fourth in the Wayne Mallison Painting and Decorations PL Benchmark 50 Handicap (1600m).
Order of Merit went on to finish fourth in the feature Gilgandra Cup eight days later behind winner Just Go Bang.
Juliet Bravo finished also third in the $50,000 Ahrens Walter Prout memorial Super Maiden Handicap (1280m) on January 5.
Hazelton is one of three Gilgandra-based trainers, along with Burgers and Ashley Gibson.
Tate wanted to acknowledge all sponsors and volunteers along with trainers and connections that travelled to Gilgandra for either or both meetings.
Plenty of organisation goes into both events with live entertainment, food vendors, jumping castle and water slide all part of the carnival atmosphere.
He also wrote a heartfelt thanks to many others on social media for their efforts.
The Calcutta on January 4 was also a success.
Special guest Tim Moses interviewed ex-Sydney rugby league first grade player and current horse trainer Terry Fahey.
Tim Moses also handled the Calcutta auction with the help of Mick Wallace and Ben Walker from Sky Thoroughbred Central.
About $9000 was in the Calcutta pool with around $5000 going to the winning connections that bought the winning horse (Just Go Bang).
“Ripper night,” Tate said.
“We had the famous Colin Hodges phantom call. He memorises every horse, he doesn’t go off the book. He nearly gets it spot on every year.”
While four important meetings are locked in annually, Racing NSW requests the Gilgandra course is maintained regularly.
This is because Gilgandra Racecourse handles wet-weather well and in the past extra meetings have been added due to cancellations elsewhere.
The Gilgandra Cup meeting also hosted memorial races named after former prominent Gilgandra identities that have sadly died including Len Kelly, Walter Prout, Bob Foran and Kate Smith.
The GJC also held an annual general meeting just before the New Year’s Carnival and where secretary/chief executive officer Rebecca Mckay stood down.
She has been replaced by interim secretary/chief executive officer Guy McAnally-Elwin.
Stuart Border has also vacated his vice-president role and Stephen Selby has stepped into to join Joshua Berryman as one of GJC’s two vice-presidents. Tate remains at the helm as chairman.
