Come By Chance Picnic Race Club didn’t let the absence of thoroughbreds stop them from hosting a successful phantom race day on Saturday.
With Racing NSW stewards declaring the Come By Chance Racecourse unsuitable for racing earlier last week, the six-race program was shifted to Cobar.
Disappointed and frustrated with the decision, the Come By Chance committee didn’t allow the transfer to deter them from putting on a show as they hosted a ‘race day’ reminiscent of the early days of NSW’s proud racing history, with a crowd of around 700 on hand.
The Namoi River Stock Horse Dash For Cash headlined the day, with eight cowboys and cowgirls racing their Stock Horses, while there were foot races, the very popular dog jump, face painting, scenic helicopter flights, music, and fireworks.
The Come By Chance committee, who had already aired their disappointment with Racing NSW and the decisions made by stewards, quickly took to social media after the Stock Horse race with a pointed post.
“NSW Racing said we couldn’t race; (it) turns out we did it better without them – The future of country racing,” the Facebook post read.
It doesn’t appear that Racing NSW will take the actions and comments of Come By Chance Picnic Race Club lightly, with Racing NSW General Manager – Industry & Analysis, Scott Kennedy, unable to comment as the ‘matter is under investigation’.
‘Well up your arse’ Racing NSW
Come By Chance Picnic Race Club posted a witty poem on the day of their meeting, and while well-recieved by the public, it’s sure to draw some criticism from the powers that be.
There was movement in the village, for the word had got around,
That Racing NSW had cracked its whip!
Said no horses at the picnics, the track too cracked and dry,
“Well bugger me”, the committee sourly quipped!
Local knowledge didn’t matter, their expertise was overlooked,
No talking or convincing could get it passed,
So, the committee rallied hard, regrouped and changed their plans,
Then said to Racing NSW, “well up your arse!”
“No horses, that’s not happening, we’ll do it our own way”,
And announced there’d be a race – the Stockman’s Dash.
And in honour of old Banjo, who’d scribed of Come By Chance,
It was named The Men from Namoi River, and there’d be cash!
It’s modern times, and a pretty girl, is sitting high and proud,
She’ll match it with the blokes, I have no doubt,
Gather round and check these horses, can you pick which one will win,
And buy the horse you think will have that rugged clout!
Come By Chance question transfer
With Come By Chance hosting their unique picnic racing experience on Saturday and photos and videos of the Stock Horse race shared all over social media, it created many conversations.
Broadly, the comments supported Come By Chance, with racing fans and even the committee critical of Racing NSW stewards.
Former Walgett mayor and committeewoman Jane Keir was astounded that Racing NSW transferred the meeting to Cobar in the first place, likening the situation to recent abandonments at Quambone and Brewarrina.
“Very poor behaviour by an organisation that should be supporting the bush,” Keir wrote when taking to social media.
“I saw the grief that was created at Brewarrina race track this year on the morning of the races; enough is enough, several other race meetings since.
“What about the cost to the communities, the social fabric of these communities, their mental health and well-being?
“How can a person/persons, who bring no credentials with them, walk onto a dirt track and say “sorry not up to scratch” having never been there before?
“Safety is always first and foremost, but just to inform everyone, the President of the race club has been on a horse all his life, competes on a horse, and rides on a daily basis and was questioned about the safety of the track after weeks of work, I ask you?”
You’ve got to feel for the stewards
Now, I know we can be critical of Racing NSW, but I don’t envy stewards and some of the rubbish they have to deal with.
I’ve never called a steward out personally, and while at times I’ve questioned decisions, I’d never profess to be in a situation to make a better call, and I’m the first to admit it’s a thankless job.
For Western Racing Association steward Jack Prior and whoever else inspected Come By Chance in the lead-up to Saturday, they were stuck between a rock and a hard place.
They’re no doubt under pressure from Racing NSW, NSW race clubs, and participants with the current steward’s ranks thin by comparison to recent years.
At the end of the day, Prior and the WRA stewards made a decision they felt was right, and credit to them for sticking by their convictions.
If they did race despite holding some reservations, and god forbid, someone was seriously injured, or worse, they’d have to live with that decision and would be liable.
For mine, we’d rather stewards err on the side of caution because no race meeting and social event is worth the possibility of risk to a participant or horse.
There’s going to be fallout
I love people ‘sticking it to the man’, but I can also value the phrase ‘don’t bite the hand that feeds you’.
While Come By Chance didn’t pull any punches, Racing NSW is a heavyweight that will take you for 12 rounds.
I don’t believe the fallout from Saturday’s Stock Horse race and the club’s comments on social media and to other media outlets about Racing NSW’s actions will be known right off the bat.
Still, I am very confident the small picnic race club will have to jump through some hoops to return to the good graces of Peter V’landys and his merry group of yes-men.
I’ve also got my concerns with the Stock Horse race being conducted on a Racing NSW registered racecourse without helmets and vests.
Maybe it’s negated by the fact that the course is on private property, but it could pose the club some issues – I can’t say for sure.
Either way, there will be a few ‘please explains’, and I’m interested to see the impacts of these actions in 12 months’ time.
