By JESSE GRAHAM
IT WAS a day of thrills and not too many spills at Yarra Glen last week, when thousands of people flocked to the racecourse for the Melbourne Cup.
But, while numbers were down on the races’ heyday, Yarra Valley Racing chief executive Brett Shambrook said the event had become sustainable and family friendly.
More than 5000 people made their way through the gates at the Yarra Glen Racecourse on Tuesday 4 November for the Melbourne Cup event, and the venue was quickly a hive of activity.
Bets were placed, local food and drink was consumed by happy race-goers, and the weather stayed comfortably warm as punters watched the event.
Mr Shambrook said that entry numbers to the racecourse had dropped compared to 2009, when the racecourse was flooded, with more than10,000 people visiting the venue.
But he said the change in numbers was also due to a number of measures put in place to kerb anti-social behaviour, such as excessive drinking.
“We put in place measures over the last five to six years to stamp out unsociable behaviour and while that’s affected our crowds, maybe they’re not the kinds of people we wanted there anyway,” he said.
He said that pickup was low for the racecourse’s new attraction for race day – a silent disco – but that overall he felt the day was family friendly, and that the races and the Fashions on the Field were well attended.
“Obviously, the Fashions on the Field from year to year gets bigger and bigger – if you looked around the crowd, it was a really well-dressed crowd,” he said.
“As far as harness racing goes, this would be the biggest event in Australia for sure.
“It appeared to me there was a genuine interest in the harness racing on-course.”
The All British Vintage Car Club had cars on display at the racecourse, and over 150 people entered the Fashions on the Field competition decked out in their best spring racing clothes.
One eye-catching fascinator, worn by competitor, Mooroolbark’s Katy Graham, was made with a teacup – matching a teacup-pattern dress.
Lilydale’s Nicole De Ivlio won the ladies’ section in the competition, while Bradley Morgan won the men’s section.
Sam Alford took out top place for boys in the children’s section and Chloe Small won the girls’ section.
Race results:
Race 1
1 – Im Intense
2 – Tuxedo Toff
3 – Margin Call
Race 2
1 – Die Hard Demon
2 – Prosperous Lombo
3 – Ya Messin
Race 3
1 – Sun of Anarchy
2 – Majestic Ess Jay
3 – Out St Pierre
Race 4
1 – Somedreamssomewhere
2 – Gonski
3 – Another Safari
Race 5
1 – Partyboy Glenwood
2 – Pushkin
3 – Holdonsu
Race 6
1 – Wemen Sporty
2 – Timeless Jasper
3 – Blue Chipped
Race 7
1 – Motu Prince of Peru
2 – Future Operator
3 – Lets Go Happy
