Emma Pritchard
The Clarence River Jockey Club (CRJC) hosted a Reunion Day during their race meeting on August 30, with a number of former and current trainers and jockeys being welcomed trackside throughout the day.
The club also paid tribute to Athol Connor, Peter Schumacher, Daniel Baker, three jockeys who tragically lost their lives in race falls at Grafton Racecourse in the last 50 years, along with Alan “The Black Pearl” Abrahams, a popular hoop who sadly passed away following a devastating collision on the Pacific Highway near Grafton in 2005.
In memory of their legacies, a number of the events across the six-race program were named in their honour.
As he invited racegoers to bow their heads and observe one minute’s silence to commemorate their passing, CRJC CEO Michael Beattie acknowledged the tremendous contributions Connor, Schumacher, Baker, and Abrahams made to the sport they wholeheartedly loved during their careers.
The CRJC also extended their congratulations to Matthew Dunn, Matthew McGuren, and Courtney Bellamy, on winning the CRJC Trainer, CRJC Jockey, and CRJC Apprentice Jockey Premierships for the 2024-2025 racing season.
Shane Everson was also announced as the leading Grafton Based Trainer.