Leading city stables, Albany trainers and local business buy up to get a slot in WA’s richest country race

Slot holders for WA’s richest country race have been confirmed, with leading industry names including Peters Investments, Gold Front Thoroughbreds and Gangemi Racing paying up for their place in the inaugural edition of The Bluff Knoll in Albany.

A total of 13 slot holders were announced on Wednesday morning which includes several Albany businesses and local stables Steve Wolfe Racing and Roy Rogers Racing.

RAM Racing Syndicate, which won the inaugural $4m The Quokka at Ascot in April and went in the $20m The Everest with Overpass, will continue its connection with slot racing.

Albany businessmen Barry Panizza, Brian Fuller and Renny Gardiner have also invested along with Inswing Australia and Delta Agribusiness.

Morton Racing and Two Fillies Stud are the other two slot holders, with each party buying a spot in the race for $20,000 inc GST.

The $350,000 slot race on March 10 will be known as the Wellington And Reeves Bluff Knoll, to be run over 1099m.

The set weights and penalties race will have a maximum of 13 starters and pays $150,000 to the winner.

Albany Racing Club general manager Mark Bayliss said they were delighted to lock in 13 slot holders so early.

“The club has got 13 slots and 13 slots filled and with those people I’m sure there’s going to be some great quality horses represent the richest country race in Albany, the Bluff Knoll,” he said.

“I’m really excited and this is an opportunity to place the club on the map.

“This is a springboard for us for the following race and we’re hoping to make this a half-a-million-dollar race in the future.

“It’s an opportunity for some businesspeople to play in this field without actually owning a horse as well.

“I think it’s an opportunity to race for $350,000 and an opportunity for these people to get involved in the fun, the excitement, the adrenaline rush and the thrill of winning.”

Wellington and Reeves directors Barry Panizza and Kathleen Mier jumped at the chance to get involved with the exciting new initiative.

“The best part is we’ve been partners with the Albany Race Club for many years as we’ve been sponsoring the Albany Cup, which this year becomes Albany Community Cup,” Panizza said.

“To have the opportunity to also be involved in a partnership with WA’s richest country races The Bluff Knoll is also a great partnership for our company in the Albany Race Club.

“We’ve branded our business with sport, and it’s going to be the biggest sporting event in Albany, certainly in autumn.

“I have actually been a little bit involved with the early planning of it.

“Initially I wasn’t 100 per cent sure that it was going to be a great thing but once looking further into it, it certainly will be.

“It’ll be the biggest country race in WA and it’ll be the biggest race between the Quokka and Christmas … you can’t ask for much more than that.”

Panizza will be in partnership with brother Darrell and Larry Dwyer, who form the Go Charlie Syndicate, in their Bluff Knoll venture.

“We’re going to take a slot which is very exciting but we still need to pick a horse,” he said.

“A lot of slot holders have already picked so we will have an opportunity to pick from the rest available.

“Our aim is to win, and we may even buy a horse ourselves or maybe we will look at something heading towards the Quokka.

“I’m sure everybody will have a slot race next year but we are the first and we’re proud of being partners with the race club.”