Sport
7 February, 2026
Wrapping up the 2025 Texas Races
Preparation for the 2025 Texas Cup meeting was done without a hitch. Volunteers prepared the track and surrounding areas to the high expectation of the trainers and public. The facilities were in fantastic order ready for our big day. There were a few improvements this year, including a new Stewards room and some extra shade coverings.
A new shade sail was installed over the bookmakers area and also a 3 metre drop shade on the western side of the spectators shed next to the mounting yard. We even had a sponsors tent and VIP area upgrade for our sponsors, owners and trainers to enjoy. Preparation for the Texas cup begins in April and follows through right up until race day and it is truly rewarding to witness a successfully run event for many visitors and locals to enjoy.
The weekend started with the Stockman Hotel hosting our Calcutta and auction. It was so good to see such a large number of people showing their support. This year the Calcutta auction seemed to turn into a battle with some very competitive bidding. The eventual winner was bought by a syndicate group from the northern Rivers for $3000. Thank you to everyone who participated, and I hope luck was on your side. Our barbecue team put on a great stall feeding everyone for the night.
Thank you for keeping everyone’s stomachs full while their pockets were being emptied! Our prize auction was extremely successful and a major thanks to our auctioneer for the night Robbie Morris.
Thank you to Mallorie for organising this and all of the businesses who donated prizes to this auction.
Our race day patrons started arriving at 10am and continued to roll in throughout the day - thank you to the Catholic Church volunteers for their work on the entry gate.
Our canteen ran smoothly and efficiently throughout the day supplying everyone with beautiful food. Thanks to Jenny and her team! It was a successful but long day in the canteen starting at 10am and working through until 10pm.
Our bar staff worked extremely hard this year to keep up with everyone’s demands also opening at 10am and finishing the night off at 11:30pm. Big effort from Scott Coventry, John Schwartz, Troy Hoffmeier, Angelo Putzolu, The Evans Head Crew and many more fellas who jumped in to lend a hand. Thank you to Mallorie for taking the time this year to organise the bar and all the alcohol to go with it, we all know everyone appreciates a cold drink on a hot Texas Race Day.
Marie Paterson and her team did an exceptional job with the catering in the sponsors/VIP area this year keeping all our Sponsors and Winning Trainers & Owners replenished.
Big thank you to our Bus and Transport Team and Sponsors. A wonderful service supplied by Dennis and Adele Clifford and our Community Bus. Our drivers, Marea and Kimble are owed a drink or two I think for getting everyone to and from the track - your efforts do not go unnoticed!
To all of our dazzling fashions on the field entrants, we hope you enjoyed the event and will be back next year. Round of applause to Ros for organising this as it is a big part of our race day wouldn’t be the same without it.
This year we had a new event on the day, our 100 Yard Stampede. This was definitely a good laugh for all spectators and will most definitely be back for future Texas Cup Race Days! Be sure to start training for next year, some of you looked like you could have benefited from a few sprint practices.
Unfortunately, we can’t promise that there will be no burrs next year!
A 5 Race Card was run and won! Thanks for our Clerk of the Course Jack and Steve and all of the barrier attendants who worked every race to ensure the safety of both horse and jockey. The 5 races were all won by Toowoomba trainers - Congratulations to young Jess Emmerson who didn’t only have her first win on the day but had her first 3 wins of her career. It was extremely exciting to see Harrison Schwenke have a win at Texas with Calmer Karma, he is a former local lad, and we are all so proud.
The club is grateful for Whyalla Beef’s support, they have stepped into the Texas Cup sponsorship position this year after many years of having Jeff Hannaford on board. Our club missed Jeff and his support this year, we hope he gets well soon.
We have many local sponsors from Texas, Inglewood and the Goondiwindi Region and are very appreciative of all their support. All of our local volunteers do not go without appreciation; it takes a large collection of people for our day to run smoothly. Some of our long-lasting men put so many hours into making the track ready so thank you - Bruce, Lach, Myles, Rod, Barry, Des, Ben, Dennis & John.
Quick shout out to our alcohol ticket sellers, they are at that booth from start until finish, Robyn and Terry thank you. There are so many people involved in the lead up to this event and I am sorry if I have missed anyone in particular, just please know I am truly appreciative of everyone’s help no matter how big or small.
I would like to take a moment to pay great acknowledgment to our Treasurer and Secretary Rita Hilton. As many of you may know, these two roles are the most important within our club and she tackles both of them. Our race day would not happen without the work that is facilitated from Rita. For the past 36 years Rita has been at the forefront of this club and has always put its best interest first. I want to thank Rita for her service and dedication during this time, it hasn’t always been easy.
Lastly, I think I need to thank my wife, Irene. The amount of hours that I spend at the track each year in preparation for this event, I think sometimes she might like me to move my bed down there.
See you all at the 2026 Texas Cup.
David “Tags” Thompson
(Club President)
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