Fascinators, Frocks and Fillies
The weather couldn’t have been much better for the return of the Mackay Beach Horse Races on the weekend, one of the most anticipated events on the Mackay calendar.
Mackay Harbour Beach was packed to the brim with bright, eye-catching outfits as punters dressed to the conditions of the coastal location and casual atmosphere of regional Queensland’s cheeky answer to the Melbourne Cup.
With six races on the card, Fashions on the Sand, the Air Jockey Competition and plenty more to delight the huge crowd, the Mackay Beach Horse Races is cementing itself as the race that stops Mackay.
A Day At The Races Done Different
The sun was shining, the breeze was blowing and the shoes were filling with sand.
The Mackay Beach Horse Races thrilled a huge crowd with an action-packed day of racing and entertainment for the whole family last Saturday.
Sand flew as retired thoroughbreds, stock horses, quarter horses and mixed breeds galloped from the Mackay Surf Club starting line to the Dispensary VIP Deck finish line, passing cheering fans as they sped down the beach.
Six races were run throughout the day with Terminate, ridden by Josh Manzelmann, winning the ultimate Mick Pope Memorial Race, named in honour of the Beach Horse Races founder.
Mackay’s most fashionable stepped up for Fashions on the Sands where everything from pluggers and Hawaiian shirts to incredibly elegant suits, gowns and headwear took to the runway.
Four winners were crowned with Sheri Sampson winning Best Contemporary, Breanna Godfrey winning Best Classic, Julie-Anne Coombs winning Best Headwear and Dean Williams named the Best Man in the Sand.
The Air Jockey Competition also took centre stage, with competitors doing their best jockey impressions and battling it out for some great prizes.
A selection of DJs played bangers throughout the festival space all day, keeping the vibes high between races and inevitably packing out the dancefloor.
As the sun set, the crowd congregated at the main stage to boogie the night away.
After such a successful event from the Mackay Beach Horse Races and Mackay Isaac Tourism, it’s exciting to see what the team have in store for next year.
L-R Fashions on the Sand winners Dean Williams, Breanna Godfrey, Sheri Sampson and Julie-Anne Coombs.
Mackay Beach Horse Race Winners
Race 1: The Harvey Norman Quarter Horse 400m
1st Clover Lily ridden by Jen Kavanagh
2nd Cool Dream N Hollywood ridden by Les Croydon
3rd Damage ridden by Jarrod Robinson
Race 2: Uniform Solutions Off the Track Thoroughbreds 400m
1st Mutomba ridden by Jarrod Robinson
2nd Almah Rocket ridden by Trinity Nash
3rd Authentic Swing ridden by Shanay Weston
Race 3: The Cruise Whitsundays Off The Track Thoroughbreds 500m
1st Ambassadors Jet ridden by Jarrod Robinson
2nd Damage ridden by Trinity Nash
3rd Pirates Jessie Jane ridden by Melissa Milton
Race 4: The Fullhammer Lady Riders Only Race 500m
1st Arnie ridden by Lisa Manzelmann
2nd Big Bubba ridden by Rachael Smith
3rd Rixon’s Funny Face ridden by Rike Buenhing
Race 5: The Wildcat Mackay All Breeds Race 450m
1st Big Bubba ridden by Rachael Smith
2nd Rixon’s Funny Face ridden by Rike Buenhing
3rd Maverick ridden by Vicki Beasy
Race 6: The Mick Hope Memorial 450m thanks to Mackay Airport
1st Terminate ridden by Josh Manzelmann
2nd Mutomba ridden by Jarrod Robinson
3rd Clover Lily ridden by Jen Kavanagh
