An isolated thunderstorm over Taroom on 30 December may have stopped the horse racing but failed to dampen the party vibe.
Dawson Jockey Club secretary Sarah Parry-Okeden – whose husband David is club president – said just two of the five races were run due to flashes of lightning, rain and hail.
She said spirits, however, remained upbeat among the “2000-plus“ attendees who instead socialised, enjoyed a drink and danced to DJ Johnny Mac’s tunes.
“The forecast was touch and go leading into the event but we had a full race card, the track looked great and everyone was excited about the afternoon,“ Mrs Parry-Okeden said.
“But, the big thunderstorm came over and that was pretty much that.“
Mrs Parry-Okeden said she wished to thank the committee and community for their support, the Taroom Kindergarten and Wandoan Wildcats for running the bars and major sponsors Senex Energy, Now Buildings and Murray Builders in Roma.
Taroom has hosted the races since 1859, with the Dawson Jockey Club formed in 1890.
It boasts one of only four left-handed tracks in Queensland, with horses racing anti-clockwise.
Results from the Taroom Races hosted by the Dawson Jockey Club:
Legend Of Zorro (1) won the Anipro Benchmark 60 Handicap 1000m Bill Joynson Memorial Class, with jockey Sarah Robbins and trainer Rodney Hay.
Cutting it close in second was Soopat (5), jockey Brodie Moffat and trainer Bevan Johnson and in third Karbors (4), jockey Tyler Leslight and trainer Bevan Johnson.
The Argus Builders QTIS Maiden Plate 1200m Class went to Semper Invictus (3), jockey Brooke Johnson and trainer Shane Iverson with Goldie’s Power (7), jockey Tyler Leslight and trainer Bevan Johnson in second.
Montagliari (8), jockey Jack Baker and trainer Wayne Baker galloped to third place.
