Ballarat and District Trotting Club (BDTC) will launch the Summer Festival of Racing this Friday (December 18).
The festival will be run over five trots meetings at Bray Raceway, highlighted by the Group 1 $120,000 PETstock Ballarat Pacing Cup on Saturday, January 23.
BDTC Chief Executive Officer Paul Rowse said the festival would be family focused.
Rowse said summer was a premium time for the trots in Victoria.
The Group 3, $30,000 Laser Electrical Lightning Mile on Boxing Night will be the other feature race of the festival.
The Summer Festival will also lead into Harness Racing Victoria’s TAB.com.au Summer of Glory, with the Good Form Victoria Cup (January 30) and the Del-Re National A.G. Hunter Cup (February 6).
The festival will also incorporate race meetings at Bray Raceway on Friday January 8 and Friday January 29.
Rowse said a major focus of the festival was to provide holiday entertainment for the family and attract newcomers to the trots.
“We want to make this a special experience for all,” he said.
Rowse said there would be various giveaways and special activities throughout the carnival, including sand castle building for children on the Boxing Day night, which will also be “family night”, an “equine experience” for a behind-the-scenes look at the trots on January 8 and a “big Aussie BBQ” as part of the Beach Party on January 29.
Rowse said there would also be a special incentive for racegoers to attend the opening three meetings of the Summer Festival.
He said any adults attending two of these race nights would get 50 per cent off general admission to the annual Ballarat Pacing Cup meeting.
Rowse those who took advantage of this offer would also go into a special draw on Cup Night for an ultimate summer prize pack worth $5000. There will also be special family admission discounts for the “Beach Party” on January 29.
The CEO said industry participants would not miss out either, with a leading driver and trainer Summer Festival premiership to be calculated over the five meetings.
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