Racing at Inverell on Saturday was conducted in conditions verging on atrocious with freezing winds and sudden showers making it uncomfortable for the hardy souls that supported the club in its first meeting of the season.
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The only warming feature was the fact that local trainers won four races on the day with Mark Stewart scoring a double on a day when dogs were double chained and brass monkeys were nervous.
Strict Covid protocols were in place and the team from the Inverell Women's Cottage provided regular cleaning of areas and surfaces during the day. The girls did a great job in difficult conditions and certainly provided a sight never before seen on Inverell racecourse.
It may have been the cutting westerly wind, but big margins were the order of the day and Jack Dixon started the run for the local when Sandy Town won the Sunderlands Cleaning Handicap by five and a half lengths.
Jack has always been involved in racing but recently took out his own trainer's licence with Sandy Town being purchased from Queensland to join the stable that includes Flying Encounter who at Armidale in April provided Jack with his first win since being licenced.
The biggest win of the day was in the Blue Gem Contracting Maiden when the Mark Stewart owned and trained Fight For Love blew the opposition away by a widening ten lengths starting as an odds on favourite.
Stewart also won the last race with Fortnite winning by two and three-quarter lengths ahead of stablemate Rubel to give him his first double and quinella as a trainer. Fortnite provided Mark with his first win at Inverell on Cup Day. The presentation was a family affair as the race was sponsored by Mark's father's business Stewart Grain Trading.
Nathaniel Scott rounded out a big day for locals when Cabriere won the Sign Print Stich Handicap by three lengths at the surprisingly good odds of $4.80 after firming from $6.00.
Baldwin returned from retirement during the day to lead a tribute to club supporters Kevin Pay, Ross Thomas and Doug Withers who all recently passed away.
The club next races on 17 October which is Caulfield Cup Day and Everest Day in Sydney and will be having discussions with the Holy Trinity P & F Committee as to what structure the day can take given that the Covid restrictions are likely to still be in place.