Sun shines on Rural Race Day
RACING fans took advantage of perfect weather and turned out in their droves to Bundaberg Race Club's first Rural Race Day.
About 500 punters dressed in their race-day best to support the AustSafe Super-sponsored event.
Organisers are now planning the second annual Bundaberg Rural Race Day after a successful first effort at Thabeban Park.
AustSafe Super Central Queensland regional manager Stacey Watson said spectator numbers and the crowd enthusiasm had made a strong point for making the race meet an annual event.
"It was embraced by the agricultural industry and the broader Bundaberg community and it's something we think has a future in the region," Mrs Watson said.
"It was fantastic to see our primary producers and representatives from agricultural industries join together for a day at the races."
Mrs Watson said the race day was about celebrating the strength of the region's agricultural sector and providing local growers and farmers a chance to come together as a community.
"We're extremely pleased with the success of the event in its first year and hope we can build upon it," she said.
"There was a lot of positive feedback from growers and industry representatives who attended."
Local Bundaberg produce was featured in displays on tables inside the sponsor's marquee and later sold in an auction.
Mrs Watson said the auction had helped to showcase Bundaberg produce and show the diversity of the region's agricultural industries.
"It really brought home why the Bundaberg region is known as the salad bowl," she said.
"Afterwards, we had people comment that they didn't realise how much produce was grown locally."
Mrs Watson thanked Bundaberg Race Club for its help in organising the event.
"They are a hardworking and dedicated group of people and have been an enormous source of help for us," she said.
"They're really committed to getting the race club up and running at full steam."
Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
