Sydney Racing Fraternity Mass for 2025

‘The Racing Mass is one of the great traditions of Sydney racing,” said Rev. Colin Watts with the Sydney Annual Racing Fraternity Mass at 11am on Sunday 16th March.

To be celebrated in the Winx Stand at Royal Randwick Racecourse, free parking is in the multi-storey carpark via Ascot Street, off Doncaster Avenue with refreshments served after Mass.

“It brings together folk from every facet of our sport; young, old and in between, in our post-Covid world to gather the community to consider God created us all especially valuable.”

Hosted by the Australian Turf Club, the intention of the service is to offer prayers for those in the racing industry and is open to all people, regardless of their faith background.

Attended by people of all denominations and by people who are non-churched, it represents all sections of the racing industry and is offered for the well-being of the industry as a whole.

“Many of Sydney’s jockeys take part in the Mass as do heads of most parts of the industry,” continued Rev. Watts, who is National Chaplin of the Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy.

“We have departments of racing at the Racing Mass including bookmakers, racing administrators, race club members, breeding and owners, along with media representatives and punters.”

“Many of the race trophies and many other symbols are included in the Mass procession, along with a jockeys’ bereavement book of every jockey who has lost his or her life in our racing.“

“Prayers are offered for those who are sick and infirmed, and we welcome people from all walks of life and faiths, being very, very welcome to come.”

Its welcoming news to the appointment of Rev. Gary Bennetts to the ARCC Committee who as previous Rector of the Parish of Georges Hall served as Chaplain for Bankstown Trotting Club.

In having a longstanding connection to the racing industry, he gained first-hand experience when a casual race day casual staff member for the Australian Jockey Club in his university years.

Toady currently the rector of Park Road Anglican Church, in Sydney’s St. George district, Garry originally gained valuable knowledge with his father being so active in the racing industry.

In celebrating the valuable contribution that the racing stable Strapper makes to the industry, its Ashish Kumar of Bjorn Baker Racing who’s the reigning 2024 Sydney Strapper of The Year.

Joining Bjorn Baker in 2017, Ashleigh was a young man from India with little experience handling horses, and has shown exceptional growth from hard work and strong horsemanship skills.

With the Sydney Strapper of The Year Award being sponsored by Racing NSW and co-ordinated by Australian Racing Christian Chaplaincy, its Ashleigh Kumar “who is also completely reliable.”

“Describing him as a natural with both the staff and the horses doesn’t do him justice,” said Warwick Farm based Bjorn Baker, “as I know I couldn’t run things the same way without him.”

“I have unwavering trust in him, and his qualities have made him an indispensable part of my stable, and It was a great moment for our team to see Ozzmosis win the Coolmore Stud Stakes.”

“Nobody was prouder than Ashish, who strapped him every start and picked him out before his first trial, while he doesn’t only handle the ‘glory horses’ he’s often with the highly strung ones.”

“Ashish is a fantastic example to all in my stable of how there are no barriers to where people can end up, and due to his lovely calm and gentle demeanour horses, and staff respond positively.”

“Ashish’s story would inspire many people, not just inside my stable as he’s a great example of how it doesn’t matter where you start or who you know in this industry, it’s the work you put in.”