Bunbury Turf Club’s busy period set to wind down with racing cleared to resume at Perth’s Belmont Park

Bunbury Turf Club’s unexpectedly busy period is set to come to a close, with racing cleared to resume at Perth’s Belmont Park after more than two months out of action. Issues with a section of turf at Belmont resulted in a mid-meeting abandonment on May 24, after which Bunbury, alongside Pinjarra and Northam, took on an extra load of meetings as remediation work was undertaken which left the course unavailable. The works were completed ahead of schedule and given the final tick of approval this week, meaning Saturday’s $125,000 Belmont Classic — which had been set to be run in Bunbury under a revised schedule released last month — will instead take place at its traditional home. Bunbury had been scheduled to hold six race days over June and July but instead hosted nine, including four headlined by listed races in the Raconteur Stakes, Aquatina Stakes, Belmont Oaks and HG Bolton Sprint and two on the course’s fibre-sand track. Racing WA thoroughbred operations manager Vinny Meens extended the governing body’s “sincere thanks to all clubs involved for their support, flexibility and commitment to the racing industry during this period”. Racing dates have now been released for the 2025-26 season, which starts on August 1. Bunbury will host 25 meetings over the season, with the most hotly-anticipated in the Bunbury Cup and Bunbury Stakes to be run on Saturday, March 7. Other significant race dates at the club will include the WA Breeders’ Classic on Sunday, February 1 and the South West Cup on Sunday, June 28, to go with meetings on the King’s Birthday (September 29) and Australia Day (January 26) public holidays, as well as Melbourne Cup day on Tuesday, November 4. * Six-year-old galloper Teabiscuit’s connections were left heart-broken by his shock disqualification from victory in a “hundred million to one” incident when winning at Bunbury last Thursday. Teabiscuit’s saddle loosened in race five, a lead bag flew off at the 50m post and his rider Holly Nottle weighed-in 0.8kg light, forcing stewards to cancel the win under racing rules. Second horse Santanova, the $3.30 favourite, received promotion to first and Teabiscuit ($5.80) was declared a non-runner. Former top South Australian and WA jockey Paul Dyson, partner of Teabiscuit’s owner-trainer Kirsten Melis, said he was stunned by the incident. “We’re heart-broken and shattered,” Dyson said. “This is a hundred million to one occurrence. I never saw anything like this when riding Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth winners. “I’ve saddled thousands of horses on race days, before and since retirement from riding, and I have not experienced what happened today. It was crazy.” Apprentice Nottle needed lead attached under her saddle to ensure Teabiscuit carried correct weight. “Teabiscuit’s saddle worked loose early, and when it shifted forward on his back, space was left for gear to become dislodged,” Dyson said. “The lead bag flew off when he was leading and set to win. “Holly showed great skill to keep riding-out Teabiscuit when his gear was loose.” Senior steward Stephen Jerrard, who was in charge of Thursday’s meeting, said stipes had acted under racing rules when disqualifying Teabiscuit. “This was a most unusual occurrence,” Jerrard said. “I have seen it happen, but fortunately, it is extremely rare. “Racing rules were strictly applied when the rider weighed-in light. It was a black and white case of disqualification. We had no option but to rule Teabiscuit was ineligible to be a winner.”