Thoroughbred Club of Geelong

Our annual Geelong Cup function in the Rimfire Room was full of highlights.
The Thoroughbred Club awarded Vow and Declare the 2023 Buxton Geelong Racehorse of the Year and 1983 Geelong Cup winning jockey Debbie Healey was awarded the George Hanlon Medal for outstanding achievement and service to racing.
Among the pioneer lady jockeys, Debbie rode more than 650 winners in her career. The Geelong Cup was among her 20 wins on the aptly named New Zealander Deb's Mate who led all the way to win by a post-war record six lengths.
After 40 years Debbie is still the only woman to ride a Geelong Cup winner and on Wednesday was given the honour of presenting this year's Geelong Cup to the connections of Amade.
The unexpected arrival of the Melbourne Cup at our Cup function capped a wonderful day for the Thoroughbred Club members and their guests.

Congratulations to trainer Danny O’Brien and the owners of Vow and Declare who was today named the Thoroughbred Club of Geelong‘s 2023 Buxton Geelong Racehorse of the Year.

Check out our Geelong Cup Day function which includes special guests and the presentation of the 2023 Geelong Racehorse of the Year.

Great value with exclusive access to the Rimfire Room in the Briseis Stand, overlooking the mounting yard and the home straight on Cup Day.

The package includes race day entry, free racebook, finger food, cheese platters and 5-hour beverage package including beer, wine and soft drink.

And you don't even have to leave the the room for a bet as we have our own private tote.

Members and non-members welcome.

Don't miss out - contact us today as bookings close soon.

Hoping she can run well again for Thoroughbred Club members and her other connections.

MIGHT JUST HAPPEN was always going to relish the longer trip and showed encouraging signs last start when she sat on a fast pace and kept on well

Looking forward to her stepping out at Moe this afternoon

Moe Racing Club - horse racing, entertainment, social events

We had great fun at the inaugural Punters Club Day at the Geelong Racing Club yesterday.
We found a couple of winners and challenged for the lead early in a hot competition against the other tables.
Congratulations to the winning Caribou table but we will be back next year for another crack.

Exciting week ahead for the club with both Might Just Happen (Warrnambool, Monday) and La Spezia (Pakenham, Tuesday) off to the races.

Good luck to all our members with Might Just Happen who resumes at Werribee today.

The Thoroughbred Club of Geelong is saddened to learn of the passing of Peter Mertens overnight.
A retired Group 1 winning jockey, Peter was a very popular special guest at our 2016 Melbourne Cup Luncheon at Barwon Edge.
Deepest sympathy to his family and many friends. Gone too early. RIP.

Today at our 40th anniversary luncheon we honoured our club foundation president Bernie Armstrong with the George Hanlon Medal for outstanding achievement and service to horse racing.
Bernie served on Geelong Racing Club committee from 1972 to 1985 and as vice president became concerned with declining race meeting attendances which led him to create the “Thoroughbred Country” campaign which still today features the ‘Vic–Thoroughbred Country’ Motor Vehicle Number Plates.
As an owner he had great success with horses such as 1972 Craven A Stakes winner Beaches who also won the Theo Marks Quality in Sydney. He also owned Battleground who was beaten a neck by Hayburner in the 1972 Geelong Cup and finished 9th to Piping Lane in the 1972 Melbourne Cup.
Another notable galloper for Bernie was the grey Wandle who won the Wangoom at Warrnambool three times in 1974,1975 and 1976 and won the Dual Choice Plate at Geelong twice in 1975 and 1975.
His long-time friend and club member Greg Welsh presented Bernie with the framed medal.

40TH ANNIVERSARY LUNCHEON
at
St Lords (formerly Lord of the Isles Hotel)

DATE: Friday, 23rd June

TIME: 12.30 for 1pm You are invited to celebrate the Thoroughbred Club of

Geelong's 40th anniversary at a special luncheon on
Friday 23rd June. We will be turning back the clock at the Lord of the Isles which was a "retreat" for members after the club's
Friday lunches in the 1980s and 1990s.

Club founder and patron Bernie Armstrong and some other original club members will be present for what promises to be a memorable afternoon.

Cost is $95 which includes a 3-course meal and beverage package.

There is also an opportunity to have your caricature sketched on the day while magician "Dazzling Dan" will also be entertaining at the luncheon.

Let us know if you, and any guests, are interested in attending.

We’re excited. More details next week.

Morning all. There are still seats available for the Pink Angels Race day on Friday 24th March if anyone is interested. Tickets are $150 all inc of 3 course meal and drinks, entry to the track race book and lots of fun. Head over to trybooking.com and book your ticket by March 14th. Choose the Thoroughbred club table.

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We are saddened to hear the passing of Tony "King" Bourke. A remarkable racing journalist who at the end of the 2008 Spring Carnival finished an amazing 42-years at The Age. The following year he was a very entertaining dinner guest speaker at the Thoroughbred Club of Geelong. A gentleman of the turf now at rest. RIP.

A few of our committee members flew over to King Island for the Flyin Races. It was a wonderful weekend with the Rock as it is called by the locals a beautiful place and we recommend it to everyone.

Dressed to impress in front of a packed grandstand at the Camperdown Cup.

Show us the winners! Club members and guests have arrived on course for the 2023 Camperdown Cup. Our first official event for the year and a big day coming up.

Jamie Edwards-trained La Spezia heads to Moonee Valley tonight. She’s chasing her 5th career win and her 3rd at the track. Craig Williams rides her. She has certainly given Club members a terrific ride.

La Spezia powered home for a very impressive win at Moonee Valley tonight. Great thrill for Thoroughbred Club of Geelong syndicate members. Trainer Jamie Edwards has her flying and terrific ride from Zac Spain to bring her home from 2nd last.

Star galloper Superstorm was today named the 2022 Buxton Geelong Racehorse of the Year. Danny O'Brien trained Superstorm at his Barwon Heads complex last season.

The chestnut only had six starts but raced in elite company earning $1,737,250 in prizemoney.

He won both the Gr1 Cantala Stakes (1600m) and the Gr2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) and was 3rd to Zaaki in the Gr1 Underwood and 3rd to I'm Thunderstruck in the Gr1 Toorak Hcp.

Danny accepted the Horse of the Year trophy at the Thoroughbred Club of Geelong's function at today's Geelong Cup.

Congratulations to both Danny and owner Bob Peters who also owned 1999 Geelong Racehorse of the Year Spectrum, trained by George Hanlon.

The Thoroughbred Club of Geelong has lost a great friend with the passing of Graham Duff.
Graham and his wife Bonnie were terrific supporters of the club and rarely missed the club’s annual Geelong Racehorse of the Year Dinner.
A former chairman of Racing Victoria, he owned many horses including Go Flash Go who was voted Geelong’s Most Popular Racehorse in 2001.
Deepest sympathy to Bonnie, Lisa, Nick, and Tony.

Good luck to La Spezia and Emsley Lodge at Moonee Valley tonight. Chasing 3 wins is a row for the Thoroughbred Club of Geelong and Mike Palmer.

We were very pleased to formally present six Engle Portable Fridges to the District 7 CFA today.
The fridges will be a valuable asset in the field for
fire fighters and have been allocated to Anakie, Bellarine, Coastal, Geelong, Leigh and Winchelsea.
The Brigades were very grateful to receive the fridges and the club was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation signed by each Group Officer.
More than $7000 was raised at a Thoroughbred Club of Geelong Bushfire Relief Golf Day which made the donation of the fridges possible.

What a thrill for Thoroughbred Club of Geelong members with La Spezia graduating to city racing at Moonee Valley and making it two wins a row this campaign.
Nailed the win right on the line with a superb ride from Jordan Childs.
An absolute ripper mare with it all ahead of her.
Many thanks to trainer Emsley Lodge, her breeder Mike Palmer and to Lenny Andrews who has looked after so well at the races her last 2 starts.

Fantastic first-up win by La Spezia at Warrnambool today.
Our members are lucky to be part owners of this exciting Toronado mare who has now won two of her six starts.
Many thanks to her breeder Mike Palmer for letting us be part of her journey and to Jamie and Janet Edwards and all the staff at Emsley Lodge who look after her so well.
https://youtu.be/EKm9X7kSBkE

Did you know Bert Newton enjoyed the races and had a horse trained in Geelong?
Kath Johnson trained Colin’s Choice for him in the mid 1980s at the Geelong Racing Club’s Haworth court complex which has since closed and been sold.
Deepest sympathy to the Newton family.

Great news - Our 2021 Buxton Geelong Racehorse of the Year - Media Award - has been invited to run in the $2 million “The Invitation” in Sydney next Saturday.