Great day ahead for Ararat cup
Spring racing season is in full swing and attention will turn to the edge of the Wimmera on Sunday as Ararat Turf Club hosts its annual cup meeting.
Ararat Gold Cup day is the Wimmera’s ‘richest race day’ and always attracts quality trainers and horses from across the state.
Highlights of the eight-race card will include the $70,000 bet 365 Ararat Gold Cup and the $80,000 Programmed China Bowl.
Ararat Turf Club manager Penny Penfold said the outstanding stakes money meant racegoers were treated to quality fields.
She said last year’s cup winner, Henry Dwyer-trained Sonntag, had amassed more than $640,000 in prize money during his career.
His wins include the Group 1 Queensland Derby.
Racing Victoria will announce acceptances for the meeting tomorrow morning.
Ms Penfold said preparations for the annual cup day were progressing well.
“The cup meeting is perfectly timed in the middle of November, making it a great location for a work Christmas party or social function,” she said.
“The course is ideally situated in the Grampians and we have put together a race day that really does have something for everyone.”
Ms Penfold said racegoers would be treated to live musical entertainment throughout the day. She said Ballarat-based cover band Trunk would play a variety of ‘favourite’ tunes.
“Once again we have made sure we have a family-friendly day and I think children will be ecstatic with all of the free activities on offer,” she said.
“We will have an animal farm, face-painting, a jumping castle, giant slide and costume brumby races.”
Ms Penfold said a popular fashions on the field competition would return and was sure to generate plenty of interest.
“This year’s major sponsor is Melbourne Parkview Hotel and with $4000 of prizes up for grabs, there are plenty of incentives to come to the track wearing your finest racewear,” she said.
“There are plenty of categories to enter, from Little Miss and Master Tiny Tot for fashionable racegoers aged five years and under, to the Lady of the Day category.”
Ararat fashions on the field aficionado Maddy Vernon is the ambassador for this year’s competition and will be among the judges on the day.
Ms Penfold said with the cup day drawing closer, it was all hands on deck.
“Ararat Turf Club committee members and staff have been busy preparing the racecourse facilities and track for the race day,” she said.
“There are many volunteer hours that go into preparing for race day and staging a community event, and we are very fortunate to have a hands-on committee who help in all areas of race-day preparation.
“This year’s race day is shaping up to be just as big as previous years, and we urge the Ararat and surrounding communities to support the turf club on Ararat Gold Cup day and enjoy a great family day out at Ararat Racecourse.”
Ararat Turf Club has joined forces with the TAC to again offer courtesy buses between the racecourse and Ararat Station and Ararat Town Hall.
Gates open at 11am. General admission tickets cost $15 online at https:// country.racing.com/ararat until tomorrow and are $20 at the gate.