Woolamai Race Club tops the State’s Picnic Clubs

WOOLAMAI Race Club was named the David and Gavan Bourke Picnic Club of the Year during the Picnic Racing Victoria awards ceremony at Frankston RSL.

Club secretary Abby Boyle was presented with the shield, awarded after a range of factors were considered to determine the winning club.

Those factors include financial criteria, community engagement, adherence to safety protocols, the presentation of the track and how it raced and the number of horses entered.

The late David and Gavan Bourke are from a renowned racing family, with both having strong involvement in picnic racing.

David was also a chairman of the Victorian Racing Club for seven years, presiding over the nation’s most famous race between 1991 and 1998, and Gavan was a big part of Pakenham Racing Club of which he was a Life Member, spending 22 years on its committee, 16 as secretary.

The annual Picnic Racing Victoria awards night brings together the 11 picnic racing clubs, along with trainers, riders and officials.

Woolamai Race Club treasurer Adam Olszanski reflected on a great evening.

“It was a terrific night; everyone let their hair down a bit, there was live music and dancing after the awards ceremony,” Adam said of the sold-out event.

He added it is great to catch up with those from other picnic racing clubs around Victoria, share stories and talk about next season.

As well as earning its own honour, the Woolamai Racing Club sponsored the Leading Rider award, won by Shaun Cooper, the winning jockey in this year’s Woolamai Cup.

It was the fourth time Cooper has claimed that honour, this time riding 27 winners for the season, 10 clear of the next best jockey.

“He’s a very accomplished rider and he’s highly sought after,” Olszanski said of Cooper.

The increased competitiveness of the picnic racing circuit last season was reflected by the fact Cooper rode 45 winners the previous season.

Olszanski noted some young riders who entered the circuit this year did well, helping explain the greater spread of winners and Cooper’s reduced dominance.