Racing's First Carbine Club Scholarship Winner

Jockey Jacob Opperman became the first apprentice jockey to win the Carbine Club of South Australia scholarship, reports racingsa.com.au. The scholarship of $3,000 has traditionally gone to young cricket or AFL players. "It's about our desire to help out young people coming through the ranks," Carbine Club of South Australia Secretary Neville Mead said. "One of the reasons we picked Jacob for this was his dedication. He's got to travel a fair bit to maintain his craft and we thought a country lad coming to Adelaide twice a week would probably find it a bit harder than others. All (nominees) would be worthy winners, but there's only one scholarship per year." The Carbine Club, named for the 1890 Melbourne Cup winner Carbine (Musket-Mersey, by Knowsley), started in Melbourne in 1961 with the Adelaide branch opening in 1983. There are clubs to be found across the world. "The club is about sport and good fellowship," he said. In addition to hosting four sports-themed functions per year, the Carbine Club of South Australia also helps raise money for charities via its luncheons, which have regular attendances of between 440 to 600 people. Opperman will be presented with his scholarship at a luncheon on Friday, the eve of Goodwood Day at Morphettville.