Sport
26 November, 2024
Searle’s race to retirement
Con Searle has been a vital part of the Kilcoy Race Club for the last 20 years, and after being instrumental in the club’s growth, Con has now stepped down as chairman.
He has 56 years of bookmaking experience under his belt and joined the committee 20 years ago to give back to racing.
In his first four years, Con was vice chairman, before moving up the ranks to chairman for the remaining 16 years.
During his time in the top job, the club built a new $1 million trackside pavilion, which caught the attention of Racing Queensland.
They also built a new 1200m start to make races more fair for riders, and Con brought grass harness racing to Kilcoy.
The Kilcoy Race Club is now a feature country tab club, with their race days broadcasted internationally.
It is also a prime country track for apprentice jockeys to earn their racing stripes.
Con said he has stayed at the club for two decades because he has a strong passion for the racing industry.
“I’ve stayed because of my love of racing and what racing gave to me,” he said.
“I just decided to always give back to racing and back to whatever I can do for racing.
“The track sort of grows on you and you become part of it, and it’s a big part of the community.”
He added that his wife, Jenny, has been his “pillar of strength” all these years.
“My strength is in my wife, Jenny Searle, and she has been a major part in the race track with me,” he said.
“She’s been on the committee by my side, and she dedicates herself to the club as much as I do, if not more sometimes.”
Con will remain on the committee as secretary to ensure the club’s five-year plan to build new stables stays on track.
Bob Whalley is the new Kilcoy Race Club chairman, which Con said he is ready to support in his new role, offering his experience and contacts.
“He brings vast knowledge to our club with his experiences in the Council, his love of racehorses, and his dedication to ensure our club progresses as it has in the past twenty years,” he said.
Con said he couldn’t have achieved so much without the support of his committees, the Somerset Council, and Racing Queensland.
