Australian track scorched in bushfire blaze as Frankie Dettori pledges support

Buchan in East Gippsland has been decimated by bushfire, and the region’s racecourse at Canni Creek has not escaped the inferno.

The Buchan and Gelantipy Racing Club had been preparing to hold the 133rd Buchan Cup on February 15, but those plans are now delayed – with the winning post, callers tower and running rail barely standing after fire blazed down the home-straight.

Club Secretary manager Ian Dunkley said a decision on if or where the Cup would be run would be left until next week, with many in the community ‘still too raw’ to decide.

“We’ll definitely leave it up to a community decision, it would be great to have it as a fundraiser for the area and to lift spirits, but it will just depend on what the locals are keen on,” he said.

“I’ve had a number of clubs generously already call me to offer to hold the meeting so we’ll just wait and see.

“While the winning post and tower have been badly burnt, the jockeys room, offices and bar weren’t impacted so we’ll definitely be able to rebuild.

Bushfires have riddled parts of Australia in recent monthsCredit: Darrian Traynor

“We’re in recovery mode now, as is the whole region, but we’re not looking too far ahead as there’s still some forecast dangerous weather conditions later next week.”

Dunkley, who has been involved with the club for 17 years, lives in Lakes Entrance and says that while the damage to the racecourse is disappointing it is nothing in comparison to how much so many others in the area have lost.

He added: “So many livestock and properties have been destroyed, and in Buchan itself a man lost his life trying to save his home, it really puts things into perspective.”

It is not the first time the Buchan Cup has been in jeopardy because of bushfire, in 2006 the event was moved to Bairnsdale for a similar safety precaution.

Dettori pledges charity support

Frankie Dettori has thrown his support behind those affected by the bushfire crisis.

Speaking at the Magic Millions Polo event at the Gold Coast on Sunday, the champion rider said many abroad had been watching on in horror for those impacted by the fires, as parts of Australia continue to burn.

Frankie Dettori: helping to raise money for bushfire victimsCredit: Edward Whitaker

He said: “What we’re doing today is all for a good cause, for the bushfire victims and the firefighters and trying to raise awareness for them.

“Even from England we’ve been watching the news every day – it’s been devastation for a lot of people.

"If we can just raise a little bit of money for the victims that would be great.”

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