Enjoy the charm of country cups
With football and netball done and dusted and warmer weather finally upon us, it’s time to get excited about the upcoming spring racing season.
Whether you enjoy dressing to the nines or a more laid-back vibe, are a serious punter or simply enjoy the occasional flutter, the region’s country cup meetings offer something for everyone.
You might want to head along to a marquee and sip champagne while watching the horses thunder down the home straight.
Or a relaxed picnic on the lawn might be more your style.
Either way, Wimmera race meetings cater for a wide variety of race-goers.
Each of the region’s racing clubs puts in a powerhouse of work to create a great day out for patrons, with live music, fashions on the field competitions and a range of dining options on the cards.
The meetings are also family-friendly, with plenty of free children’s activities to keep the youngest of patrons entertained.
The annual meeting will Murtoa Cup again open Spring Carnival in the Wimmera.
Saturday’s event is part of Murtoa’s Big Weekend festival and always attracts a good crowd.
Horsham and District Racing Club has regained a Sunday date for its cup meeting, with this year’s event scheduled for October 21.
The region’s richest race day, the Ararat Gold Cup, will be on Sunday, November 11, with the Donald Cup the last of the spring features, the following Sunday.
Other clubs will run their cups throughout summer and autumn, with the Apsley Cup the last of the 2018-19 season, at Edenhope on Sunday, June 9.
Horsham and Stawell will again run Christmas meetings, which usually attract a big crowd of revellers keen to enjoy big end-of-year celebrations.
While many Wimmera race enthusiasts also head further afield for their fix, embracing the colour and spectacle of Melbourne’s world-famous Spring Racing Carnival, others prefer the charm of a country cup.
To find a meeting that suits you, visit https://country.rac ing.com.
Meet fashions on the field ambassador Maddy Vernon
Ararat Turf Club has appointed Maddy Vernon as its 2018 fashions on the field ambassador. Maddy won her first sash in the ‘miss teen’ category at the 2010 Ararat Cup meeting and never looked back. The Weekly Advertiser caught up with her ahead of this year’s Spring Carnival to find out how she became a regular on the fashions on the field circuit and what she thinks this year has in store… The Weekly Advertiser: Congratulations on being chosen as this year’s Ararat ambassador! How long have you been participating in fashions on the field? Maddy: Thank you, it was quite a surprise! In 2010 I won ‘miss teen’ wearing a hat I borrowed from a local lady. I didn’t do it the next year and probably started taking it more seriously in 2013. Now, I love it. TWA: You have had quite a bit of success at country cup meetings. Do you have any particular highlights? M: Winning ‘lady of the day’ in Ararat in 2016 was a definite highlight. It was a big one to tick off my bucket list. I was also runner-up at Dunkeld in 2017 and won ‘lady of the day’ at Avoca. That was pretty exciting. I’m usually good for the hat prize and seem to do better in that category than ‘lady of the day’. TWA: How do you go about putting your race-day outfits together? M: For me, it’s all about the hat. I work out my headwear and then I piece my outfit together based on that. Most people find their outfit first and then get their headwear made. My mum plays a huge role, too. She makes a lot of my clothes, either from scratch or by making alterations. It is not unusual for her to be still sewing something the morning of the event. TWA: What fashion trends do you think we will see this season? M: I haven’t done any reading on trends, but I feel this year we are going to see a lot of bold colours paired with soft colours, for example, navy and pale blue, or a darker purple and a mauve. I also think there might be an increase of clashing prints, such as spots and stripes, or florals and spots. I think we’ll see more scarves as accessories this season, too. TWA: Do you have any tips for people interested in participating in fashions on the field for the first time? M: Dress for the weather. Spring racing fashion is different from autumn fashion, for example. I also recommend people consider their whole outfit – shoes and earrings are as important as the dress. People should also dress conservatively and not flash too much flesh. Elegance is always key. You can’t go wrong with something classy.
TWA: What do you enjoy most about country cup meetings? M: I love the weather and having a glass of champagne while catching up with friends. I also enjoy the ‘first call’ music before the start of the race and the sound of the horses as they pass you on the track.