Murray Bridge Racing Club wins at industry awards

Trainer Garret Lynch has also been recognised at Racing SA’s end-of-season awards night for 2023.

John Leahy and John Buhagiar accept an award from state MP Vincent Tarzia. Photo: Racing SA.

Murray Bridge Racing Club, and a local trainer, have won gongs at Racing SA’s annual end-of-season awards night.

The racing club won an outstanding achievement award for the work it did to protect its Gifford Hill racecourse from flooding.

The track itself was never in direct danger, of course; but the summer’s River Murray floods threatened the pumps from which it drew its water supply.

Without water, the track’s turf would have died off, rendering it unusable for months on end and forcing more than 200 horses, their trainers and associated staff – and numerous race meetings – to relocate.

The club enlisted Spry Civil Construction to build a levee around the pump, then laid sandbags on top of it.

While it was surrounded by floodwaters, club members used an aluminium dinghy to ferry diesel fuel out to it, 500 litres per week, fending off rats and snakes in the process.

Chairman John Leahy and secretary John Buhagiar accepted the award on the club’s behalf.

Also recognised was trainer Garret Lynch, as provincial and country trainer of the year for the second year running.

However, he was unable to attend the awards after being banned from the sport for three and a half months for failing to provide adequate veterinary care to one of the horses in his stables.

The suspension began on July 25 and will end after November 7.

• Read more: Racehorse trainer Garret Lynch reflects on the rodeo accident that changed his life

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