COUNTRY RACING VICTORIA PRAISES QUICK ACTION BY MOE RACING CLUB
COUNTRY Racing Victoria congratulates Moe Racing Club on its swift actions to ensure the betterment of the industry was maintained by promptly transferring its Cup race meeting.
After Moe received more than 30mm of rain in 24 hours yesterday, the Cup program was transferred to Cranbourne today.
The reigning Victorian Country Club of the Year, Moe Racing Club will suffer a significant financial loss from losing its biggest race day of the year with early estimates at $250,000.
However, with the prompt decision to transfer, industry participants will still be able to earn their livelihood by the meeting being conducted at Cranbourne.
Last year this meeting attracted a record crowd of 9187 and the Club is in discussions with many of the groups that had booked packages about transferring them to the Club’s Melbourne Cup Day race meeting.
“We’re hoping to transfer as many as we can to the Melbourne Cup Day date,” Moe Racing Club Chief Executive Officer David McKinnon said.
“Losing the race day is just devastating for the entire Club from the staff and committee to the volunteers and contractors who put in a big effort to ensure the day is a success.
“With Moe Cup Day it is not only the Club that suffers too, it is the whole community. In conjunction with the traders we run a three-hour sale in the morning that many people travel down for before coming to the Cup. But with the races called off, most people assume the sale has been too, so many of the local businesses have lost trade.”
Country Racing Victoria Chief Executive Officer Scott Whiteman praised the selfless actions of Moe Racing Club.
“Unfortunately Mother Nature hasn’t been kind to another Moe race day this calendar year, but the Club acted in the best interests of the industry yesterday in immediately calling for a transfer,” Whiteman said.
“This is a massive loss for the Club and we call on the community and racing participants to support upcoming meetings at Moe to ensure the Club continues to move forward from this.”
Moe Racing Club hosts its next meeting on Melbourne Cup Day, with race day packages still available.
“We have changed the format for this meeting, with the last race to be finished by 3.15pm. People will then be able to watch the Melbourne Cup on the big screen before a number of bands take centre stage to play into the night,” McKinnon said.
Patrons can still follow and bet on the Melbourne races. Music will start about 3.50pm including an AC/DC and Bon Jovi tribute bands.
For more information about upcoming Moe Racing Club meetings visit countryracing.com.au.
