The lures of the Yarra Valley and the wonders of spring racing come together in a two-day carnival that will lure 1000s of spectators to the trots.
All is in place for Yarra Valley Racing Club’s Melbourne Cup and Victoria Oaks race days, a celebration of racing that moulds trots and fine fare with the traditions of Australia’s premier week of gallops racing.
The first Tuesday in November precedes the Yarra Valley’s $30,000 pacing and $20,000 trotting cups on Oaks Day Thursday, which Yarra Valley Racing Club chief executive Brett Shambrook said made for a “big week for us”.
“The clash with trots and the Melbourne Cup gives the crowd a good opportunity to experience horses in the flesh and see some of the other horses going around at Flemington on the big screen,” Mr Shambrook said.
“It’s a very unique crowd. We are getting people wanting to experience a day out at the races. Melbourne Cup Day is a tradition for a lot of Australians and we draw a large crowd from the local area.
“It is for people that don’t want to experience the crush at Flemington who can instead come to the Yarra Valley and have a pleasant experience.”
It will be the third year that the Yarra Valley has also held its pacing and trotting cups on Oaks Day, which Mr Shambrook said gave punters “another bite of the spring carnival cheer”.
“It’s racing’s major time to shine and Oaks Day is such a popular day with the fashions on the field, and bookings are going nicely,” he said.
“We are a tourist destination synonymous with food and wine and good times and that certainly helps us attract race goers.”
Those facets are certainly celebrated at the club’s Melbourne Cup Day celebration, when gates will open at 10am and activities including local act Ruckus among three bands, more than $16,000 in prizes in Fashions on the Field competitions, and the Food and Wine Avenue featuring local beer, wine and ciders and food.
There will also be plenty of children’s activities, including a jumping castle, merry go-rounds, chair-o-plane, plaster painting, cartoon caricatures and supervised activities.
Free buses will run from Lilydale train station. For more details click here.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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