Even a sad loss to the West Coast Eagles in the AFL Grand Final couldn’t dampen spirits of race fans at this year’s Kulin Bush Races.
The popular races celebrated their 21st birthday and saw thousands of keen visitors and locals enjoy a weekend of racing, camping, entertainment, footy and old-fashioned country fun.
Organisers say an estimated crowd of 2500 was slightly down on last year, likely due to the Grand Final between Hawthorn and West Coast Eagles.
But footy fans were kept happy with a large screen TV showing all the action.
The main event was the Kulin Cup, sponsored by Country Wide Insurance Brokers. It was won by Reggi and ridden by Renea Delower.
The event kicked off on Friday with markets under the giant marquee. There was sheep shearing demonstration, a novelty tin horse race and live entertainment staring Hayden McGlinn and Lionel Morris.
Saturday morning started with the popular Camp Hart service alongside the race track.
The Gymkhana, sponsored by Fiona’s 60th birthday, featured horseback games including an egg and spoon race, a flag race, a can race and a balloon race.
For the first time there was a jaws of life display. The Kulin Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service and the Kulin and Lake Grace ambulance volunteers cut local Ben Whisson out of a white car using the jaws of life.
Making Wheatbelt roads safer was a feature this year. The RAC brought along their Elephant in the Wheatbelt which is a life-sized tin elephant made from old car pieces, including mobile phones. In car crashes, many are caused by mobile phones.
The RAC is keen to make a change in people’s driving behaviour.
There were some fun novelty races, including a kids’ race, dog race and the popular sheep race. The sheep race was won by Baby Don’t Herd Me, closely followed by the rest of the herd.
There was some excellent entertainment. Perth Highland Pipe Band are regular at the weekend and kicked things off.
Other entertainment included Rohan Day, a two-up competition, fireworks and a tug-o-war. On Saturday evening favourites Slim Jim and the Phatts and Envy kept the dancers among the crowd on their feet.
Hundreds camped at the event in campervans, caravans, tents and swags. They enjoyed the view and the food, despite the odd doublegee.
Kulin races is in a spectacular spot positioned in a wheat field, alongside Jilakin Rock and a salt lake. Jilakin Rock is giant and towers over the races, with people crawling over the rock like ants over a pile of sugar.
After the recovery breakfast on Sunday, we packed up and left – enjoying dozens of entertaining tin horses sculptures on the Tin Horse Highway and flowing wheat fields.
This was my second Kulin Races, and I hope to be back again next year.
Race 1: Jilakin Classic – 800m unregistered. First - Blenheim, (T Cooper), second: Gill (M Barwick/S Richards), third – Honky Tonk (M Butler/R Robertson), fourth – Rosiridge Little Gem (B Duane).
Race 2: Pingaring Plate 800m registered. First – Party Boy (S O’Neil/J Buller), second – Pauli (W Murray/R Delower), third – Brown Sugar (M Butler/R Robertson), fourth – Golden Reasons (B McGinnty).
Race 3: Dudinin Dash 400m unregistered. First – Gill (M Barwick/J McArthur), second – Molly (R Bobby/K Clarke), third – Speedybond (B McArthur/M Barwick), fourth – Blenheim (T Cooper).
Race 4: Tin Horse Hustle 400m unregistered. First – Honky Tonk (M Butler/R Robertson), second – Mystery (K Rowe/T Smith), Gingeroid (R Bobby/ K Clarke), Catwalk (K Rowe).
Race 5: Kulin Cup 1000m. First – Reggi (W Murray/R Delower), second – Syd (L Boag), third – Brown Sugar (M Butler/Leo Tharby), fourth – Junior (T Smith/Jess Buller).
Race 6: Varley Stakes 800m 10yrs and over registered. First – Louise (W Murray/R Delower), second – Start Me Up (T Smith/L Tharby), third – Chester (T Cooper), fourth – Optic (R Robertson).
Race 7: Holt Rock Handicap 400m registered. First – Pauli (W Murray/R Delower), second – Jules (B McArthur), third – Syd (L Boag), fourth – Koowee Girl (T Cooper).
Race 8: West Kulin Whoppa 400m registered. First – Reggi (W Murray/R Delower), second – Party Boy (S O’Neil/Jess Buller), third – Golden Reasons (B McGinnty), fourth – Hang Em High (T Smith/J Stockwell).
