An Extraordinary Morning on the Beach

 Tuesday 10 January

It was the week of the Gold Coast Turf Club's, Magic Million, yearling sale. 

Magic Million is Australia's number one thoroughbred sales company. Each January they host the most prestigious horse racing carnival in Queensland, The Star Gold Coast Magic Million Carnival.

I love horses, but do not follow horse racing. I learnt this year that the carnival commences with the Aquis Raceday and a day of Polo and Showjumping. The week continues with yearling sales and a finale Magic Million Raceday. 

Rachel [Gaiter Girl] brought to my attention Tuesday morning's event on the beach at Surfer's Paradise. The barrier draw for the big race was being held from 6 am to 10am. The highlight of the morning would be the thoroughbreds with their champion jockeys, racing down the beach in a one off event.

The Gaiter Girls made this event the focus of our Tuesday 'hike'. We parked several kilometres away from Surfers to get some k's up before the event. On our arrival, the jockeys and the Ambassadors for the event were being interviewed.

Ambassador Zara Phillips, the Granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth is on the right.

This held little interest for us, so we made our way down to the barrier on the beach, to secure a frontline view of the race.

The fillies!

The punter!

Before the race, the horses and jockey's paraded along the course. You will note that the tide was quite high on this morning. Many a reporter and cameraman were caught out.

Number one caught out, was a very British bugle caller for the event.

Later, he came to the rescue of a jockey whose mount was swept off his feet by a stronger wave, as they warmed down, on the edge of the surf.

Prior to the race, there was much parading and milling around of the horses, jockeys and media.

The race.

Jocelyn's slo-mo.

Post race, the horses and jockeys paraded once more, before retiring to a shady corralled area. Here the horses were washed and rubbed down and the jockeys continued on to the barrier draw.

It was a lovely morning on another perfect summer's day. No sunburn! The Gaiter Girls retraced their steps back to our cars and drove to a well earnt coffee stop, after our early start.

Well, Rebecca and Rachel arrived. Jocelyn and I were stuck in a traffic jam and then couldn't find a car park!

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