Toowoomba’s Clifford Park will once again stage the annual Fitton Insurance Charity Raceday this Saturday, September 29.

This year’s theme is ‘Some Like It Hot’ and will incorporate the $12,000 Carnival of Flowers Cup.  Proceeds will benefit the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Toowoomba Hospital Foundations and the R U OK? charities.

Long-time Darling Downs equine supporter Del Fitton founded the Fitton Charity Raceday in 1988 and was awarded an Order of Australia medal for her services to the community and the promotion of the thoroughbred industry in 2011.  She is also chairwoman of the Queensland Equine Hall of Fame.

Fitton also received the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) Humanitarian Award.  She was inspired to raise funds after her husband fell victim to cancer in 1978.

QIMR director Michael Good praised Fitton for her dedication to the equine community and to a good cause.  “Del is an inspiration to the Toowoomba community,” Good said.  “It’s people like Del that enable us to continue our medical research into critical diseases such as cancer, mental health and HIV.”

Fitton also praised her son Ron for his efforts in helping to organise the fund-raising events.  Like the time he performed above and beyond the call of duty when the Charity Raceday theme was ‘James Bond – You Only Live Twice’.  Ron arrived by helicopter playing the part of Agent 007 himself.

One of the fund-raising highlights on Saturday will be the stallion nominations auction of first-season sires Love Conquers All and Pressday.

Love Conquers All (Mossman) was a G2 winner of The Shorts at Randwick and he stands at Eliza Park’s Queensland base for a $13,750 fee.  Pressday (Domesday) is also covering his first book of mares at Eliza Park this year.  He was a G1 winner of the T J Smith at Doomben and serves for a $9,900 fee.