Claire Power MIDWEEK racing returned to Ipswich today after a host of weekend and public holiday meetings to start 2021. Conditions were superb with the track rated a soft 6 despite receiving 25mm of rainfall yesterday and over 45mm for the past seven days. Winners came from all sections of the track, always a good test of the running surface and a tribute to track manager Sean Tou and his team. Big odds come up trumps THE first winner for the day saw connections of Brief Sojourn keen to celebrate after collecting the Maiden Handicap 1350m at odds of $66.80 for the win.
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FEDERAL politicians representing Ipswich accepted gifts of footy tickets, alcohol, turf club passes and artwork in 2020.
Exactly what they declared is laid out in the register of members’ interests for senators and federal MPs.
Oxley MP Milton Dick accepted a ticket and corporate hospitality for the third game of State of Origin at Suncorp Stadium in November.
Mr Dick also accepted a ticket and corporate hospitality for the AFL game between the Brisbane Lions and Geelong Cats at the Gabba in October and two Ipswich Turf Club passes in August.
As part of his statement of registrable interests, Mr Dick declared two residences in Durack and the ACT, and two investment properties in Clayfield and Sunshine Beach.
Brett Kitching TODAY was not only the final Ipswich race day for 2020 but my last edition of this column as I am soon galloping off to retirement. It has been a great joy to report on thoroughbred racing in Ipswich and to work with The Queensland Times. The paper for many years has played a huge role in supporting Ipswich thoroughbred racing and helping to maintain the prominence of the Ipswich Cup. Special mentions for guiding this column and providing insight go to Peter Foley and of course David Lems, the positive, passionate sports enthusiast who has been of enormous assistance to the club over his 36 years at the QT.
Brett Kitching AFTER the rain last week, the Ipswich track was not even in the heavy range this morning. There was however a further 10 millimetres of rain midmorning prior to the racing commencement and this rain pushed the track rating back to the heavy range. There was an upgrade after race 4 back to a soft 7 giving further clear evidence of the newly free-draining Ipswich surface of 2020. Despite being rated in the heavy range, the times of the early races were more like good to soft ratings as the first was run in 1.10.4 for the 1200 metre journey - less than half a second outside of the class record. These times continued and hence the track reverted back to the soft range.