‘As a party, it stands alone': Ipswich Cup meeting bounces back from grandstand fire

There were the dramatic scenes of a burning grandstand in the lead-up to last year's Ipswich Cup, but it has been far more smooth sailing this time for officials who are expecting a bumper crowd of more than 12,000 on Saturday.
An electrical fire on Cup eve last year saw extraordinary scenes at the popular meeting with the main grandstand empty apart from the racecaller.
'Obviously one aspect we are looking forward to is having people back in the grandstand following the Cup eve fire last year,' Ipswich Turf Club CEO Nathan Exelby said.
'Broadcaster David Fowler cut a lonely figure as the only person in that stand last year.
'Restoration works were completed in October and we're looking forward to seeing our members and guests back in that stand for the 2025 Cup.
'The crowd last year was 12,500 and we are expecting a similar number this time around based on ticket pre-sales.
'The Ipswich Turf Club is proud of the role its TAB Cup meeting plays in the winter carnival landscape.
'It's not a Group race meeting, but as a party, it stands alone.
Sean Tou played the role of fireman when he charged into a burning grandstand at Ipswich to save the club's biggest race meeting earlier this year and has pulled off recovery work of a different type in reviving the track after a recent renovation. ðŸ'‡ https://t.co/TcErbQcXb4
— Racenet (@RacenetTweets) September 15, 2024
'The combination of the infield festival and the 200m-plus marquee line along the home straight, it is a sight to behold and newcomers to the Cup meeting are consistently amazed at the scope of the event.
'The Brisbane Racing Club do a super job with their carnival, having positioned it as the launching pad to future stardom.
'Ipswich doesn't attract that same level of horse, but we run three very competitive stakes races and another (the TL Cooney) that is knocking on the door of being upgraded to black type status.'
While the race day is known for the $250,000 Ipswich Cup, the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic and Listed Eye Liner Stakes are also key races.
It might not be the Group 1 Stradbroke day that we saw last Saturday, but Ipswich has its own iconic spot.
'The weather gods finally tipped their hat to the Brisbane Racing Club and the Stradbroke meeting was simply outstanding,' Racing Queensland CEO Lachlan Murray said.
'Attention now turns to Ipswich Turf Club.
'Nathan Exelby hosted a Calcutta on Thursday night, the first time it has ever been held at the Turf Club itself and it was a good warm up for the Ipswich Cup meeting.
'The weather gods are smiling and the fields are looking good; I expect a great day of racing.'
The Ipswich Cup is one of the most attended race meetings in Queensland every year.

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