Beaut Bubbles Happy To Guide Newcomers On Syndicate Success

The all-female Bubbles Syndicate, unsung heroes of Townsville racing for well over a decade, are keen to share their secret to success with a new brigade of owners.

Formed in 2010 by prominent women from business and community life in Townsville, Bubbles has raced more than 30 horses at Cluden Park and is still going strong.

The wins have flowed steadily over the years from their very first horse, Crimea, their best runner Roweiner, and the likes of Omineca, Shepherd of Fire, Dawn Too Good, and Lighthorse Lad in a long and fruitful association with trainer Bill Kenning.

And with the carnival in full swing with Ladbrokes Ladies Day this week, the eight current Bubbles members are excited about the prospects of their latest neddy Bubbles‘n’froth who will race a week later on Townsville Cup Day.

But win, lose or draw, it’s another excuse to do what they do best - party and pop a few bottles of bubbly trackside with family and friends.

Founder and syndicate manager Deidre Walsh, who established the former Lipstick Syndicate in the 1980s, said the group’s pre-requisite to  race horses locally was the key to Bubbles’ longevity.

“It all started with our insistence that our horses are trained here so that we can watch them run – and of course have a lot of fun along the way,” Deidre said.

“We’ve been very lucky with our horses. We’ve got a great trainer in Bill Kenning who with Julie Bell (partner) do a fantastic job.

“Financially, the syndicate is sitting pretty. We have a lot of money in the bank and we’re looking to get more horses.

“My husband says it’s the only syndicate he knows of that pays a dividend each year.

“And we want to encourage other people to form a syndicate and enjoy what we do supporting racing here at Cluden.

“Anyone wanting assistance to set up a syndicate, particularly a female group – we’re only too happy to help.

“I know what I’m doing – setting it up, getting your colours, getting it going and I’d be pleased to pass on that advice.

”Our syndicate brings a lot of people to the track and we try to support anything the club puts on out here, not just race day. I chase up the girls and say come on you’ve got to get out there.

“We do race days even when there’s none here. We’ve organised lunches where we’ve got dressed up in black and white as though we’re at Flemington on Derby Day that sort of thing.

“It’s just a lot of fun.

Deidre came up with the idea for the  Bubbles syndicate 15 years ago after a chance meeting with Faye Robbins whose son John was training in Townsville at the time.

Recruiting members was fast once word got out.

“We approached people we knew who were interested in racing or a good time and word got around,” Deidre said.

“The syndicate had 13 to start with. Some dropped out as they moved south and we’re down to eight now which is a good number. We get as many as possible to come out and support the horses and the club.”

Bubbles members may get to kick up their heels on race days, but a lot of work goes on behind the scenes to keep the syndicate ticking along.

Treasurer Christine McMahon keeps financial accounts, fellow founding member Wendy Pack is in charge of records and has written a booklet on Bubbles’ history, and Deidre provides constant information to members on social activities and horses.

Wendy summed up the success of Bubbles which also includes Sue Winter, Donna Toohey, TTC committee member Debbie Rains, Sue Harrison and Amanda Platt.

“The strength of the syndicate lies in a number of areas. Deidre our manager. She really is the one who communicates all of the time with the trainer and then in turn sends emails back so we are always fully informed - and it’s always majority rules,” Wendy said.

“Then there is our treasurer Christine who has kept meticulous books all of these years.

“And the third thing is we’re all friends. There’s no animosity. We’ve got one another’s backs. We support one another and have fun. 

“Every year we invite our spouses to come along with us to a southern meeting. This year we went to Randwick and spent a weekend in Sydney.

“It’s a happy place and I look forward to coming to the races. We want to have horses that race at Cluden so we can enjoy seeing them run. 

“It’s affordable. Ladies can form syndicates and it doesn’t cost a lot of money.

“We are also appreciative of the support the turf club has given to the syndicate. We have a table here that we’ve knick-named the Bubbles table.”

As for the carnival, Bubbles members still beam talking about Omineca’s win on Cup Day a number of years ago.

“We got up at the presentation, after a few bottles of champers,  and sang ‘we love you Billy’,” Deidre said.

“Our hope this year is Bubbles‘n’froth can do the same.”

Bubbles race Bubbles’n’froth in partnership with their spouses who form the appropriately named Frothy Breer Syndicate, as well as Bill Kenning and Julie Bell.