Cup Day crowd tipped

DUST off the dresses and sharpen up the suits, the Townsville Cup will likely be the first major sporting event to welcome a large crowd in Townsville.

The Townsville Cup, which will be supported by feature races Cleveland Bay Handicap and Townsville Guineas, will be held on August 14 and it could be raced in front of hundreds of people if the Townsville Turf Club gets its way. It might not be the crowds of past years, but it is a prospect that seemed a world away only a month ago.

Townsville Turf Club president Mal Petrofski told the Townsville Bulletin last month he was hopeful that up to 600 patrons could enter the facility for Cup Day.

“We are hopeful, as we understand from July 10 we can have 100 people in each area, that gets us about 600 people,” he said.

“It might not be the crowds we usually have, but I am just keen to get any patron back to the races. Whatever the government regulations are we will abide by and work within. But we have to remain hopeful.”

But it could prove even better than that for the local racing facility, with Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell confirming to News Corp that fans would be back in time for North Queensland’s winter features.

Racing Queensland has eased restrictions on the number of patrons at venues, with 20 allowed at Eagle Farm on Saturday to witness Tyzone win the Stradbroke Handicap.

Racing is one of the few sports that was able to proceed throughout the coronavirus pandemic, albeit with numerous biosecurity measures, and the industry has proved in the past few months that it can work within the guidelines.

Patrons were barred and attendance strictly limited to essential personnel, with racing zones implemented to restrict travel.

Both the zones and patronfree meets were lifted last week, and it’s hoped the way forward will become clearer by the end of the week when RQ submits an industry COVID Safe plan to the Queensland Government.

Parnell was confident the Cairns Cup would be run in front of punters.

“(The plan will have) a staged return to patrons at the track,” Parnell said. “There will be some fans at the (feature meetings) later this year.

“We’re so lucky we’re able to race.”

While punters continue to watch on from home, all eyes will turn to Peak Downs today as the Mackay Turf Club hosts a nine-race program.

A few Townsville trainers will take on the four hour road trip on the hunt for glory, including Terry Mcgovern who will hold high hopes for fiveyear-old mare Kanui. still