Events

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Bendemere Cup (Horse Racing)

Forty years ago at Bassett Park, The first Bendemere Cup was held at the newly formed Roma Turf club at the suggestion of the Wallumbilla community (the original race club in the Bendemere district) who wanted to establish a presence in the new club.

Aware of the strong history of the race in the district, former Bendermere shire mayor, Rex Smith, determined to keep the race tradition alive, was able to galvanise the other four shires to support the event, bringing their employees, their suppliers and their ratepayers to one of the regions’ oldest Cup races.  When the shire councils amalgamated in 2008, the Bendemere Cup proved to be a lynch pin for the spirit of co-operation which would carry the Maranoa council and its people into the next stage of growth and development.

More than 1000 people attended that day and cheered as Rex performed one of his final duties as mayor of Bendemere in presenting the large silver Cup to the racewinner.

Local businesses and community groups have been keen to support the event as a way of bringing together those in the shire for a day of social activity and country racing.

Bendemere Construction Services have led the way in the Wallumbilla/Yuleba community, taking the main race and gathering support for the 5 race program from the Wallumbilla and Yuleba Hotels, Mid-West Rural Traders and Brandon and Associates.

In 2010, the Bendemere Cup will excite interest from the wider Queensland racing community as it will include in its program Queensland Racing’s new QTIS 600 race for Magic Millions Two year olds, offering $50,000 in prize money. With extra prize money also boosting the remainder of the program, locals can expect a day of outstanding racing in Roma.