Sydney’s 2024 Racing Fraternity Mass will be celebrated on Sunday 17 March at 11.00am in the Gallery North Room, Winx Stand, Royal Randwick, with refreshments provided afterwards.
Celebrated again by Father Tom Stevens, it’s held in addition to the Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy with Anglican Minister Rev Colin Watt as the full-time Sydney Racing Chaplin.
‘The Sydney Racing Fraternity Mass is a time of thanking the Lord, the Maker, God, for the thoroughbred, for if no thoroughbred there would be no jobs for millions across the world.’
‘It’s a time of thanking God and asking for his blessing on the thoroughbred industry, and in asking for God’s blessing for those who are ill and those who are working in the industry.’
‘It’s a celebration for all denominations, everybody, not only just Catholics, in joining together in a prayer of the Mass in thanking The Lord for the horse – it’s a big industry and society.’
Chaired by Anglican layperson Dr Karin Sowada, a former Senator and strapper, the ARCC honours its retired chaplain’s Rev Paul Bayliss and Br Dan Stafford OAM in this its 20 year anniversary.
And its Vicki Walker, Fr Tom Stevens, Bob Prior, Mark Bartimote, David Seymour, Keith Long, Brendon and Fran Hotschilt, Geof Vines, Rev Ross Ellwood, Marina Mosman, Rev Phil Zamagias and Philip Woolford who serve racing Australia-wide.
In celebrating the Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy, the Canterbury Evening Star Strappers Awards are conducted each Friday night at Canterbury during the 2023-2024 racing season.
Always highly contested, the Australian Turf Club at each meeting presents $100 to the strapper of the ‘Best Turned Out’ horse in the feature race of the evening, the KIA Evening Star.
First it was Brett Adams of Richard Litt Racing with Lancaster Bomber on Friday 17 November, followed by Mark Spackman with Cheerful Legend for trainer Nathan Doyle on 24 November.
Kiah Robinson-Tripp was next on 8 December with Edmon for Wyong based Kim Waugh, followed by placed Lancaster Bomber and Richard Litt, this time with Tom McDermott on 15 December.
Into 2024 and on 5 January it was Kathryn Adams being successful for Mathew Smith with Zambrero, followed by Shivam Shivam on 19 January strapping Conceited for trainer Richard Litt.
On 2 February it was Rebekah Brierton for trainer Ron Quinton with Smart As Smart having his last start, while Francesca Halliday followed a week later with Basarwa for trainer Kris Lees.
Two third placing completed the series in February, with Shivam Shivam again for Richard Litt Racing, this time with Marnix, while Christine Pilapil won with Wingardium for trainer Bjorn Baker.
Congratulations go the Phylisha Doyle as the reigning Sydney Strapper of The Year when presented at the “Night of Champions,” in association with the Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy.
In managing a 20-horse barn at Chris Waller’s Rosehill Stable she is in-charge of their top 40 colts and geldings during trackwork, and is regularly seen on raceday managing the colts and geldings.
Highly capable with a high work ethic and willing to help, it is not unusual for her to run the Warwick Farm stables in the absence of the regular foreperson, all with her bubbly personality.
It’s the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival of 2024, it’s the ARCC who facilitated the 2023 Sydney Autumn Carnival Strapper Awards with Harmandeep Singh having Shinzo win the Golden Slipper.
Donated by the Australian Turf Club and presented to the strapper of the Golden Slipper and Doncaster Mile winner, it was Ross Wishart and Mr Brightside winning the Doncaster Mile.
