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The Australian Turf Club and leading Australian cleaning, waste management and presentation services company, Quayclean Australia, have launched a special jockey series to raise funds for local organisations around Canterbury Park racecourse at the hugely popular KIA Friday Night Racing season.

Ten of Sydney’s leading jockeys will be allocated a local community group or charitable cause and compete in a series based on 3 points each win, 2 points each second and one point each third.

Points are doubled for the KIA Evening Star race at each meeting and will also be retrospectively awarded from the first three meetings of the current season.

At the end of the ten-night season, jockeys who compile the highest totals will earn their allocated causes: $7,500 (leading rider), $3,500 (second high total) $2,000 (third highest) and $1000 for each charity of the remaining seven riders.

In addition, any jockey not in the selected 10 riders but who takes out individual riding honours on any Friday night will receive a donation of $1,000 for their selected charity.

The Australian Turf Club and Quayclean will fund this $20,000 total in partnership.

The ten Sydney jockeys competing in the series are James McDonald, Hugh Bowman, Kerrin McEvoy, Tommy Berry, Nash Rawiller, Tim Clark, Josh Parr, Rachel King, Jason Collett and Tyler Schiller.

Australian Turf Club Executive General Manager Racing and Wagering James Ross said the innovative series engaged with local residents and communities around Canterbury Park.

“The Australian Turf Club’s KIA Night Racing Series has been one of Sydney’s most successful sporting and family entertainment initiatives in many years, attracting record crowds,’’ Mr Ross said.

“Local residents and the surrounding community have been a major part of this success and this series helps to give something back in recognition of their support.

Jockey James McDonald (Pic: Bradley Photos)

“KIA Friday nights have brought many first-time fans to racing and the jockey series further integrates the very best of Sydney’s world-class riding ranks with these new customers.

“We are delighted to partner with Quayclean, who have been a key business partner of the Australian Turf Club especially during COVID.’’

Quayclean CEO Mark Piwkowski said his company had no hesitation in supporting the series.

“Community organisations are the heartbeat of local communities and Quayclean is excited to support the ATC’s fundraising initiative and assist these 10 groups as they continue to provide important services for local residents,” Mr Piwkowski said.

The ten organisations taking part in the series are:

Dancing Heart Studios: This charity provides relief from suffering for disabled persons of all ages via structured and educational weekly dance classes. (Tyler Schiller).

Saint Michael Meals: Meals are prepared in Bankstown and taken to Central Station to feed the homeless. (Joshua Parr)

Meals on Wheels – Canterbury: Canterbury Meals on Wheels Inc. is a service that provides home delivered meals to persons, living in the City of Canterbury Local Government Area, who are frail and elderly, or have a disability, or are a carer. (James McDonald).

Humanity Matters Incorporated: Creating dynamic connected communities that embrace and celebrate ALL their members, opening doors for social inclusion to those young people who have become disengaged and isolated. In Bankstown, weekly on Friday nights. (Kerrin McEvoy).

Recreation Sports and Aquatics Incorporated: RSAC provides leisure activities, sport and recreation for people with disability and support for carers. (Tommy Berry).

Outloud: Outloud is an intersectional, CALD-focused social impact arts organisation that creates genuine, meaningful, inspiring opportunities for young people in Western Sydney. (Nash Rawiller).

Little Wings: Little Wings is a nonprofit organization providing sick children and their families, throughout regional NSW, with free ongoing flight and ground transport during the treatment process. (Rachel King).

Sydney Olympic FC: Weekly football program in term 2, 2022 to engage local schools and children from a multicultural background that may not be playing club football. (Tim Clark).

Australian Kookaburra Kids: Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation delivers a mental health program to children aged 8-18 living in a family where a parent has mental illness. (Jason Collett).

Learning Links: Preventing learning difficulties from causing disadvantage. We work in close collaboration with schools, early childhood settings, professionals, and parents to help children with learning disabilities and difficulties. (Hugh Bowman).

For all racing, general and ticketing information for upcoming meetings across the KIA Night Racing Series at Canterbury Park go to australianturfclub.com.au