It might be her first year in the big seat, but it has been no slow start for Townsville Turf Club CEO Cassandra Cazzulino who hit the ground at a canter and quickly sped up to a gallop, all to deliver a winner of a winter carnival.

Following a decline in attendance and a period of financial instability last year, Townsville Turf Club entered 2017 with a committee of new faces, a fresh, modern focus on the racing game, and a new leader at the reins.

In late January 2017, Cassandra was appointed as the club’s first-ever female CEO, with a focus on reinvigorating the tired establishment. With considerable experience in both events and business development as the former owner of Out of The Blue Events, her approach was this – to implement innovative and practical solutions that would transform the Townsville Turf Club into a multifaceted entertainment and thoroughbred racing venue.

Cassandra is well on her way to achieving this goal. This year’s marquee precinct at the Mater Townsville Cup was a sell-out, with an increase in overall numbers from last year’s event by almost 30% and new additions including Otto’s Trackside Parlor with Hit 103.1 and Bank of Queensland. We spoke with Cassandra directly.

Cassandra, what changes have you made since becoming CEO?

My focus since coming into the role has always been to reinvigorate and refresh the club while maintaining the glorious yesteryear that has enabled 150 years of wonderful memories for racegoers and industry participants.

The Townsville Turf Club has always had a strong community connection and we didn’t want to lose that appeal. We’re heavily focused on the sustainability of the club – racing alone is not enough to remain financially viable. We need to develop and grow non-race revenue while reducing costs with smarter options. It’s a steady transformation with a focus on longevity for the club’s future prospects. Rebuilding a giant like the Townsville Turf Club will take time but we are cutting ourselves free of the old and welcoming the new ways we do business.

What made 2017 Townsville Cup ‘successful’ compared to recent years?

For this year’s Mater Townsville Cup, I focused on making the general admission area more exciting. Modern twists like the Wild Goose Espresso Martini Bar and The Ville Resort-Casino Fashion Precinct appealed to a fresh new group of racegoers, many of whom had never been to a race day before. Getting new faces to the track is always high on the list and we achieved that this year.

“Rebuilding a giant like the Townsville Turf Club will take time but we are cutting ourselves free of the old and welcoming the new ways we do business.”

– CASSANDRA CAZZULINO

What do you have in store for 2018?

2017 was about showcasing the flexibility and beauty of the multifaceted entertainment space that is the Townsville Turf Club. In 2018, we will build on this exposure by engaging with a broader range of stakeholders to create a space that supports great community projects, exciting racing events and provides strength and stability for the club. We will also continue to focus on attendance and membership growth.

What can we look forward to for the remainder of 2017?

Our next Saturday Race Day on October 28 is The Cathedral School P&F Association Pallarenda Stakes Charity Race Day, in support of the Pyjama Foundation and Headspace. The day will include free kids’ activities throughout the day and sunset tunes and dancing after the races. It’s a great day to head out with the family and get behind the energy of the younger two-year-old horses and fresh new owners pushing them over the line.