Move over The Everest, The Big Dance, The Barn Dance, The Gong, etc etc.

Tuesday November 14 saw Victorian racing finally fight back hard against the succession of meaningless pop up races introduced in Sydney in recent years, with the introduction of Victoria's own Everest, the Tony Noonan Social Syndicates Maiden Plate.

Run over the “classic distance” of 1000 metres at prestigious Mornington Racecourse, it was won impressively by Our Cracklin Rosie, who immediately showed what a great form reference the TNSSMP (as it is already known by industry insiders) is, by heading to Moonee Valley for a repeat win at her next start.

And there to bear witness to the inaugural running of this soon to be time honoured classic were over 170 of our Social Syndicate members who enjoyed an outstanding 2 course lunch, a chance to get together with fellow members and an afternoon of unparalleled excitement and  entertainment led by the maestro Tony Noonan, who by the reckoning of many there can work a crowd as well as he can train a horse.

 

 

                   

 

The day had it all as they say in the Country Racing ad.

It featured competitions, prizes, the Men’s and Women’s “Fashions in the Silver Bounty Lounge”, a Punters Club, a chance to head to the Winners Bar after our race, revealing interviews by Tony with prizewinners, popular stable jockeys Jake and Dakotah and Assistant Trainer Tom Noonan and to top everything off we finished the day with musical entertainment from renowned stable duet Imogen and Clive.

Imogen and Clive didn’t perform Cracklin Rosie in honour of our race winner, but they did perform another Neil Diamond classic in Sweet Caroline!

Dakotah also rode Lady Tino to victory in the second leg of the Quaddy (although as an odds on fave Lady Tino destroyed our quaddy dividend!) and told us about her boxing past, gave us an update on her personal life and divulged what kind of boss Tony was. Jake gave us the secrets behind his ability to consistently ride light at 54kg this spring and it didn't involve joining us for afternoon tea.

 

The feedback Tony and I have had since the day has been fantastic and we look forward, with the help of current and prospective new Social Syndicate members to getting this years 170 people up to perhaps 300 for a similar event next year.

THANK YOUS

There are many people to thank after an event like this.

Firstly thanks to Mornington Race Club and in particular Steve Wicks who worked with us so diligently to put everything together. Thanks also to the kitchen, bar and front of house staff who did such an outstanding job looking after us on the day.

Thanks also to our financial supporters for the day in Kirks Hotel, Steeples Mornington and the Frankston Theatre Group who helped us out with vouchers and tickets as prizes for our winners.  Support them all with enthusiasm if you can - I want their money next year!!!!

Thanks to Jake, Dakotah, Tom, Imogen and Clive for lending their time and efforts to the day, and to Caitrin Kelly from the MRC Committee who spoke to the gathering and hosted our members in the Winners Bar.

And in particular thanks to all our Social Syndicate owners, whether present on the day or not, for their outstanding support – there is no doubt that those who get involved in TNR Social Syndicates are people that want to get out there and have a good time and they always turn up to Racedays, stable visits or functions like this with a full on positive attitude.

In particular I’d like to thank our wonderful Syndicate Managers who as always did a spectacular job in organising their troops, collecting the money etc. Social Syndicates is a tremendous concept giving all our members the chance to share fully accredited horse ownership with friends and community members for around the price of a largish cappuccino each week, but it would not exist without the brilliant efforts of our Syndicate managers.

Finally thanks also to everyone there for enthusiastically supporting Tony’s suggestion to donate the proceeds of our Punters Club (approx. $240) to the Very Special Kids charity.

                                                

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT SOCIAL SYNDICATES?

As always if you were there and had a good time and think others you know deserve to be a part of it, or you weren't there but want to know more about Social Syndicates, then feel free to give me (John) a call on 0413 271235 or drop me an email at john@tonynoonanracing.com.au