The Queensland racing industry has received a major boost with the Gainsborough Lodge Racing stables to return to Toowoomba.
Melinda Richards, the daughter of the late Col Richards who owned the Gainsborough Lodge operation has decided to move the stable’s horses from Coffs Harbour in NSW.
Col Richards died earlier this year aged 84.
He is best remembered as the owner of Mackinnon Stakes winner Oliver Twist and top race mare Hooplahannah.
Richards was opposed to the construction of the Toowoomba synthetic “Cushion track” which was introduced in 2009 and moved the Gainsborough Lodge Racing Stables to Coffs Harbour.
After four years the Cushion track was given the thumbs-down by members and the surface was again ripped up with the course proper returned to grass in 2014.
“Dad was planning to re-establish a presence in Toowoomba and I am following through on his wishes,” Melinda Richards said.
“I want to play an active role within the Toowoomba community by creating jobs and contribute to growing the Toowoomba economy.”
Local trainer Tony Sears will handle the Gainsborough Lodge horses.
“I’ve known Tony for close to 30 years since he was doing track work at Rosemount Park near our previous horse stud, Rosemount Farm in the 1980s,” Richards said.
“Tony has had remarkable success of late and I hope we have the opportunity to be part of that with the quality in our racing stables.”
The most famous horse to come from the Darling Downs was Bernborough, an inaugural inductee to the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
