THE SPRING CARNIVAL INCORPORATES 22 COUNTRY CUPS IN VICTORIA

OVER the 50 days of the Spring Racing Carnival, racegoers can enjoy 76 unique country race days including 22 Country Cups.

Country racing is fast becoming the discovered jewel as more people flock into the affordable race day packages to enjoy the relaxing, family-friendly race days offered by the various country and picnic racing clubs.

“CRV is extremely proud of the efforts the country racing clubs go to that ensure racegoers during spring enjoy the `Great Day Out’ experience at country race meetings,” CRV Chief Executive Officer Scott Whiteman said.

“Attendances continue to grow at country race meetings in spring, with attendance up 12% last year on the year before when nearly 190,000 people had a great time at a country race meeting.”

“Country race meetings provide a relaxing alternative that compliments the high-profile race days conducted in metropolitan Melbourne.”

On Melbourne Cup Day there are seven country race meetings throughout Victoria. Growing each year is the main country meeting at Echuca, while recently introduced meetings at Moe and Horsham gain strong footholdings as places to be on Melbourne Cup Day. Other race meetings are held at Bairnsdale, Mildura, Wangaratta and Mansfield.

On the other major metropolitan race days, there are four country race meetings complimenting the Group 1 races. On Caulfield Cup Day, Bendigo, Avoca, Wodonga and Hamilton host unique race meetings ranging from a beach party to a girls’ day out. On Cox Plate Day there is a Food & Wine Race Day at Yarra Valley and a new Girls’ Day Out meeting at Tatura, as well as race meetings at Swan Hill and St Arnaud.

On Derby Day Traralgon enjoys a Ladies’ Day race meeting, while Cup meetings take place at Mt Wycheproof and Mortlake along with a picnic meeting at Healesville. On Oaks Day, Warrnambool and Pakenham host sensational race days catering for the ladies.

Among the country cup gems are the Luxbet.com Cranbourne Cup and the Centrebet.com Geelong Cup.

On offer is a $1 million bonus for any horse that can win the Luxbet.com Cranbourne Cup on Sunday 11 October and then win the Caulfield Cup on Saturday 17 October. In 1998, Lisa’s Game won the Cranbourne Cup before placing second in the Caulfield Cup, while last year Barbaricus placed second in the Cranbourne Cup before finishing third in the Caulfield Cup six days later.

Meanwhile Geelong is expecting several international runners to compete in the Centrebet.com Geelong Cup on Wednesday 21 October, which was won last year by Bauer before the Luca Cumani-trained entire was nosed out at the post by Viewed in the Melbourne Cup. In 2002 the Dermot Weld–trained Media Puzzle won the Geelong Cup before famously winning the Melbourne Cup with jockey Damien Oliver in the saddle.

Other country cups to be contested during the Spring Racing Carnival are Gunbower, Murtoa, Benalla, Manangatang, Moe, Avoca, Seymour, Horsham, St Arnaud, Sale, Terang, Bendigo, Mt Wycheproof, Mortlake, Kyneton, Ballan, Ararat, Dunkeld, Donald and Ballarat.

For more information about the 50 days of the Spring Racing Carnival in the country, visit www.countryracing.com.au.