Meets set to match big races

By Dion Teasdale
YARRA Valley Racing is staging two major meetings at the Yarra Glen Racecourse as part of the Spring Racing Carnival.
The race meetings will coincide with two of the racing carnival’s biggest metropolitan events, the Cox Plate and the Melbourne Cup.
On Saturday, 22 October Yarra Valley Racing will stage a special Yarra Valley Food and Wine race day at Yarra Glen to coincide with the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
The meeting will not only feature eight oncourse races and live screenings of the races being run at Moonee Valley, but it will also showcase produce from local food and wine producers.
“The Yarra Valley Regional Food Group and six local wineries will be selling their produce through the day so people can really make the most of what the valley has to offer,” Yarra Valley Racing chief executive Michael Mooney said.
The event will also feature live music by the band 80s R Us, who are back this year by popular demand, and there will be children’s entertainment and amusements.
“The Cox Plate meeting at Moonee Valley is one of the country’s leading thoroughbred race meetings and this year we are expecting about 4000 visitors to Yarra Glen,” Mr Mooney said.
“We are encouraging people to make a weekend of the race event by staying in the valley and heading out and about the wineries on Sunday.”
Mr Mooney said visitor numbers would be boosted this year thanks to a $10,000 grant from Tourism Victoria which has funded large mobile and fixed billboard advertisements around Melbourne.
On Tuesday, 1 November, Yarra Valley Racing will host its own Melbourne Cup event with eight harness races at Yarra Glen.
The race meeting will feature full bookmaker facilities for punters to bet on Melbourne Cup and local races, and screenings of all the races from Flemington.
A highlight of the day will be the Fashions on the Field competition with prizes from major sponsors Chirnside Park Shopping Centre and Noni B.
Other attractions include roving entertainment, amusement rides, full bar facilities, and takeaway and restaurant meals.
“Our Melbourne Cup event is one of the largest harness meetings in Victoria and this year we are expecting more than 10,000 people,” Mr Mooney said.
“We are running free shuttle buses to and from Lilydale station and the course in Yarra Glen, and we are looking forward to a fun, relaxed day.”
BYO alcohol is not permitted at the 1 November race meeting.
For more information phone Yarra Valley Racing on 9730 1332.