SIXTY SECONDS WITH WINNO - CAMERON RICHES

By Darren Winningham with Cameron Riches | Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Cameron Riches has been the Operations and Racing Manager here at the Darwin Turf Club since April 2017.

He moved from Cairns in North Queensland after working for his father as a builder for 13 years. He was previously also the President of the Gordonvale Turf Club in North Queensland and was on the board of the Cairns Jockey Club for several years.

He has held many roles in racing trying his hand a bit of everything … Operations, Racing, Bar Management, Sponsorship, Marketing, Event Management and Social Media.

He role as Operations Manager at the Darwin Turf Club is a roll that he is passionate about. On race days he looks after all the audio and visual, access controllers, security, car parking, ambulance staff, set up and pack down of signage and other bits and pieces around the track.

His role as Racing Manager is to be the contact point for Stable Street (Darwin Turf Club horse precinct) speaking to horse trainers and jockeys. Handling all repairs and maintenance, visiting trainer’s applications and the list goes on. It’s something he really enjoys.

The club is expecting a solid crowd on Cup day. He told WINNO “We generally get a crowd of around 18,000. I have only done one cup before but, without being biased, it is one of the best shows that I’ve seen.

"I have been to plenty of racing meetings around Australia, in fact the world as I’ve been to places like Hong Kong Races and I tell you, you can understand why the Carlton Mid Darwin Cup is on everyone’s bucket list.”

He goes onto tell me that this week is GRAND FINAL week for the Darwin Turf Club with a schedule that will be run off his feet and where, in his own words, “anything and everything may go wrong, and I have to be ready to deal with it.”

This is the Grand Final Week schedule!

Wednesday 1st August - Darwin Corporate Park Cup.

Thursday 2nd August - Let's Talk Racing Luncheon.

Thursday 2nd August - Magic Millions Tried Horse Sale.

Friday 3rd August - Carlton Mid Darwin Cup Barrier Draw.

Saturday 4th August - bet365 Palmerston Sprint Day.

Saturday 4th August - Qantas Gala Ball.

Sunday 5th August - Darwin Cup Calcutta.

Monday 6th August - Carlton Mid Darwin Cup Day.

After a big build-up – it was time for Cameron to take off his work gloves, bare his worn sweaty hands, stand up with a beer in his hand and go toe to toe with WINNO in a 60 seconds not to be missed.

We are reporting live from Darwin so here goes punters – my first 60 seconds in the Northern Territory!

Are you ready Cameron Riches?

Where were you born?

Cairns, Queensland.

Have you a nickname?

Herman but normally its Cam or Cambo.

Why?

Question for the former CEO of Cairns Jockey Club, Michael Stewart lol. He gave it to me probably fourteen years ago. Even named a TAB Race the Herman Riches Handicap.

What is your position in the Industry?

Operations and Racing Manager of the Darwin Turf Club.

Who is your boss?

Keith Stacy and the Darwin Turf Club Board.

Fondest memories of working for someone?

Can’t go past working for the old-man, Gary Riches Builders. Always was great finishing a project and moving onto the next.

What is the best thing you like about your work?

Attending the Races.

Do you drive a car?

Yes.

What kind – what colour?

Lexus. White.

What do you do when you cannot sleep?

Flick through my Phone or turn the TV on.

What time do you get up and what time do you start work?

6.30ish but start no later than 8am. In the position I am in, we can’t do much with the track still open.

How do you prefer to be woken in the morning?

Unfortunately, it’s the alarm clock on the phone.

What is the most memorable day at the track for you?

Very hard to split between 3:

- Shezza Riches winning on my 21st birthday. Had the party at the track after the races. Made the night more enjoyable.

- Magnum Forty Four winning the 100th Cairns Cup back in 2011.

- And finally winning the 100th Gordonvale Cup in 2016 with Idle Situation. It was at a club I put a lot of time into and it was my final meeting as President.

What is a favourite horse you seen or had an association with?

Magnum Forty Four. Just had a small share in it but he was a superstar, won the Cairns Cup, Townsville Amateurs and two races in Brisbane … fun times with great people including the late Pop Massingham and my good mate Boogie Massingham.

What was the turning point of your career?

Working my way up at the Gordonvale Turf Club to be president for a number of years. It was great to see the club go from 800 people Cup day to 2500 plus. Also spending 4 months under a person who I respect a lot in Michael Charge doing an apprenticeship at the Townsville Turf Club during their carnival in 2016.

Around racing who is the biggest pest?

Carl Spry – ex Toowoomba boy!

The biggest Joker

WD-40 Wayne Davis.

What are you always late for?

A knock off beer.

If you were not doing what you are doing what do you think you would do for a job?

Still working for the family business as a builder back in Cairns.

What is your favourite music?

Aussie Pub Rock.

Who is your favourite musician?

Don’t have an all-time fav.

What is the most embarrassing song on you IPOD of IPHONE?

Have a tradie phone with no music!

Are you trying to say you actually work at the Darwin Turf Club – I mean do some work?

I am saying I have no time for music on the job!

Can you cook?

I try my best.

What can you cook?

Have had a fair bit of success with the old school beef curry in the slow cooker.

If you don’t cook – who cooks?

The local pub.

Who is your wife/partner?

No idea. If you know can you let me know please lol

What would you choose as your last meal?

Don’t win friends with Salad so a nice steak.

If you could have dinner with anyone in the World who would it be?

Donald Trump.

Why?

Might feature in one of his outrageous tweets.

Name one thing you could not live without?
Sport - love the banter and opinions that people have at the pub.

What is your greatest fear?

A photographer wearing white gloves (aka Winno).

Here we go … Do you really want to go there? They told me to wear gloves when handling the Darwin Cup last year – did you stitch me up?

No comment WINNO – but we all know you are the King of stitch ups!

Where do you like to travel to – holidays etc?

Recently it has been going back home to Cairns.

Why?

Because it is home.

What is your favourite show on TV?

Live sport.

As a child what was your favourite TV show?

Hey Arnold and Spongebob Square Pants.

Winter sports are here. NRL /AFL

NRL- Mighty Brisbane Broncos

(You know I dislike the Bronco says WINNO.)

Yeah I do know – I do read your Facebook posts!

State of Origin – NSW or QLD

Queenslander- you may have won this year but you have only been able to say that twice since Facebook has been around (12 years).

Is that a shot at me and NSW Cameron?

Of course – WINNO.

Who do you speak to most often on the phone?

Mum and Dad.

Who is your man crush?

Never had one but I’ll say Michael Charge.

Why?

Who doesn’t like a bloke on tv giving tips out wearing a purple shirt! Lol.

Who is your female crush?

Hilary Duff.

Why?

Don’t ask me why but that there was something about her.

Do you have a favourite fragrance?

Lynx.

What are you grateful for everyday?

Waking up.

What item or landmark symbolises Australia?

Great Barrier Reef. Best place to view it is in Gods Country- Cairns.

Sandwiches – what do you put on them?

Vegemite – white bread with butter.

Pizzas – do you like them?

Too much.

What is your favourite topping?

Go for the Chilli Pizza, Pepperoni and Pineapple.

Where do you buy them?

NT Pizza Co in Nightcliff is my fav in Darwin.

How do you define success?

Completing things.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you that not many people know?

I used to play roller hockey as a kid, and I wasn’t the goalkeeper lol. Played in 2 divisions one day juniors and seniors won both 1-0 and I was only goal scorer in both games.

Do you have any pets?

Nope, but do shares in race horses count?

Scrunch or fold in the dunny?

I am a scruncher – who has the time to fold anyway!

You are down to your last $10 – what would you spend it on?

Probably two XXXX gold schooners lol.

Thanks for spending Sixty Seconds with WINNO

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