The crowd in the stand, on the hill, along the rails and on the flats roared as one in the final moments of the Miners Rest Cup.
“It’s a photo!” race caller Duncan Dornauf broadcast over the cheering.
Then there was silence across the King Island Racing track as all eyes were on the judge’s box waiting for the numbers to drop.
The winner of the second running of the Miners Rest Cup was Wholesome, giving Tommy Doyle for McEvoy/Mitchell stables and Robert Keys consecutive cup wins.
The margin was a nose back to Mayoral Privileges of Henry Dwyer Racing, jockey Jamie Gibbons and trainer Jim Taylor and the race start favourite Southern Jewel – Andrew Noblet Racing, trained by Rowan Hamer, jockey Codi Jordan – came in third.
Tasmanian Racing Minister Felix Ellis and Opposition Racing Spokesman Dean Winter journeyed to King Island and mixed in with the visitors and King Island locals.
“I love racing, I’m a mug punter. I grew up around racing,” Mr Ellis said. “This is such a beautiful and unique track, on a unique island.”
Newly-appointed TasRacing CEO Andrew Jenkins had his first King Island experience and loved it. “I had such a good time, everything here is unreal, I went back and put the King Island races straight into my calendar,” he said.
Racing club president Audrey Hamer told the crowd there’s always something to do in racing right up to the start of the season and that it was great that the new TasRacing CEO helped with the day’s setup, jogged the track and marked it as good for the day.
“It was a big couple of days for the interstate visitors, starting at the King Island Hotel and a few hit the King Island Club,” Ms Hamer said.
Friday night included a Calcutta, horse auction and dining on local King Island produce with Ian Johnson at the not-yet-open-to-the-public renovated Boomerang Restaurant.
As the Maritime race day ended, the visiting racing fraternity moved to View Dining at the King Island Golf and Bowling Club.
It wasn’t all on the track for the Miners Rest interstate trainers and stable crews, as they also swung the sticks at Cape Wickham and Ocean Dunes.
This year the King Island sporting clubs were the beneficiaries of the racing prizes and charity fundraising events. The final tally is King Island Racing Club $5000, Currie FC $8500, King Island Boat Club $6000, North FC $6000, Imperial 20 $4000, King Island Football Association $3000 and Grassy FC $3500. Camperdown Turf Club also received $5000 from the MRC Crew.
Robert (Kodge) Keys and his Gunyah stable support crew were delighted with the cup win and thanked the McEvoy/Mitchell stables, sponsor Magic Millions, for the horse and the local training opportunity.
“I’m the only trainer in the world to have won two Miners Rest Cups.”
While upbeat Kodge told racing.com that while the mainland trainers’ season input is fantastic, welcomed and the charity financial benefits are so appreciated by the clubs, businesses and wider community, the problem of aging trainers, retirement wishes, lack of young riders and island horses remains a concern.
The MRC crew and sponsors said that they will continue to support King Island racing beyond 2024.
The eight-race card, with three harness races included the much sought after Ern Chitts Bracelet (2200m) which was won by Run Callan Run for NSW satellite stable trainer Bill.