Inaugural Waterhouse/Bott Golf Day raises awareness

Written by Oz Wedmore

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

The inaugural Waterhouse/Bott Golf Day was held in Sydney on Monday, and alongside the entertainment provided to a host of Tulloch Lodge clients and supporters came the opportunity to raise money and awareness for an important charitable cause.

After speaking at the International Forum for the Aftercare of Racehorses (IFAR) conference, which preceded the Asian Racing Conference (ARC) in February, Jess Bott was approached by Warren Moore, Chairman of Equine Pathways Australia (EPA).

Providing programs for people with disabilities for those recovering from injury or illness to engage with equine sport, EPA was founded by Julia Battams who has been a national coach for the Paralympics, having taken teams to London in 2012 and Rio in 2016.

With many of EPA’s horses being ex-racehorses, Moore was inspired to approach Bott when she spoke about the Own After Racing (OAR) initiative, which encourages owners to maintain their involvement in racehorses as they transition into second careers.

“Warren asked to meet me after he heard me speak at the IFAR Conference, and then they came through the stables and we sat down, Warren, myself and Julia, just to hear about their charity,” Bott told TDN AusNZ.

“That coffee and a big chat inevitably led to this. After he heard about the golf day, Warren reached out and asked if we had a charity partner, and that was that.

“I think it goes full circle, I guess that’s what grabbed me when I was initially talking to Warren, as they use the off-the-track horses and we’re really passionate about it.”

Kate’s journey

Further than simply raising money for EPA, the donations and proceeds from the day’s charity auction were split evenly between the EPA and funds heading directly to Kate Nipperess, a former jockey who was paralysed in a trackwork incident at Warwick Farm in 2016.

Having rediscovered riding through EPA, Nipperess is now set on an ambitious path towards the 2024 Paris Paralympics, with the acquisition of a new horse recently putting her on track to qualify for the team.

Whilst Kate Nipperess was sadly unable to make the event after a last-minute delay, her father Reg Nipperess was on hand, with Gai Waterhouse putting his singing talents to use as a former Roy Orbison impersonator as she encouraged lunch attendees to dig deep into their pockets.

“Emma Coleman came up with the idea, a lovely young Irish lady who’s relocated with us in Australia,” Waterhouse told TDN AusNZ. “She’s a keen golfer and she said: ‘Why don’t we do something like this, and get the owners and their friends together?’

“Eighty-five people came today (Monday), and it’s been magical,” she added. “I think it’s essential that doing a day like today can be of great benefit to others. We’re so lucky to be able to run around without any disability, but for people in life who do it’s a cross to bear and it’s a cross that’s not always accepted by society so it’s nice if we can be of help.

“Everyone enjoyed it, everyone would like to come next year and I’ve got one year to work on my golf!”