This Sunday’s race meeting at Goulburn brings together the old and the new, with the time-honoured Anniversary and Crookwell Cups to be run on the same card as the Graeme Spackman Memorial which will be held for the first time by the club.
Goulburn Race Club's CEO, Robyn Fife, said the Graeme Spackman Memorial race is a suitable tribute for the man everyone in the area knew as “Spacky” [pictured left].
“Graeme Spackman spent many years building a reputation in the racing industry as a successful trainer and a hard-working industry participant. We are pleased to be running the race in his honour on one of the more traditional days on our racing calendar,” Ms Fife said.
“He was a man that many people could relate to. Not only did he train horses out of Goulburn Race Club but he also helped mentor up and coming riders and trainers in his time around the club.
"We look forward to presenting the associated perpetual trophy for the first time and what a fitting thing it would be if a local trainer won the race.”
One of those who a had close association with Spackman is local trainer Tash Burleigh. She rode both trackwork and races for “Spacky” and has a live chance in the race with her gelding Territorial. The lightly raced galloper caught the eye steaming home into the runner-up's prize first up at Canberra from a mile back and looks a genuine chance.
Other local hopes in the race include the promising Cheat’m who resumes for the consistent Mark Gee stable whilst Greg & Kelly Gooch have the rock hard fit Storm Force also engaged.
Ms Fife says Sunday kicks off a super strong month of racing at the tablelands track: “It’s an exciting time for the club with a $2000 cruise to be won by any trainer who accepts at any of the three race meetings throughout the month. There’s over $690,000 in prizemoney on offer and our month culminates with the club’s showcase race day on November 26th, featuring the JCF Contracting Goulburn Cup which is worth $150,000 for the first time,” Ms Fife said.
View the final fields with full form & race replays for Goulburn here