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By Geoff Newling 

Lismore Turf Club has received outstanding nominations (134) for Friday’s eight-race TAB meeting highlighted by a 1400m Christmas Cup they have named in honour of badly injured secretary manager Scott Jones.

Jones is recovering from shocking explosion at the LTC on Thursday, November 23 suffering burns to 45% of his body.

He was rushed to Royal Brisbane Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit but has since moved to the burns unit where he will receive further surgery and ongoing treatment.

LTC vice-president, Mike Cleaver, a former club secretary country racing manager, is “looking after” the club in Scott’s absence and preparing for a big Scott Jones Christmas Cup.

His admiration for the injured club secretary is immense and he said he has been an outstanding secretary manager for the club.

The LTC will hold a fundraising night for Scott in February where the club hopes he will be “able to walk through the door” after being discharged from hospital. The investigation into the explosion is ongoing while a Go Fund Me page has been set up face book to support the Jones family.

In the meantime the club races its first meeting at Lismore since last month’s shocking explosion and Mike Cleaver believes it will be an outstanding day after the club received 134 nominations.

“That’s very good,” Mike Cleaver said as he also thinks the Scott Jones Christmas Cup will be a major success with 20 nominations.

“I know Owen Glue is very keen to win it,” he said of the Lismore trainer who has the Murwillumbah Cup winner resuming from a short spell.

“She goes well fresh and won a barrier trial by 10 lengths the other day as well. She’s flying.”

Anne Bonny is a five-year-old daughter of Stratum with six wins from 23 starts. She has also had five starts at her home track, winning three and finishing second twice.

There are plenty of Cup winners nominated as well with Casino Beef Week Cup winner She Tells Lies (Leo Clapham), Stephen Bennett’s Traconi (Tabulam and Evans Head at Casino) and Lismore Cup winner Skytrek (Barry Lockwood) nominated.

Lismore trainer, Daniel Bowen, also has three of his stable nominated – Hope Island, Malmoosa and Water Boy – while Queensland trainers are also well represented with David Vandyke, Ben Currie and Desleigh Forster (2) nominated for the Scott Jones Christmas Cup.

The annual meeting also has plenty of interest off the track too with the LTC’s famous seafood luncheon a highlight.

“$60 a head,” Mike Cleaver said.

“We pack the place out every year. It’s the second biggest day of the year for us too turnover wise.”

View the fields and form (including race replays) for Lismore's Christmas Cup meeting here.