It was a massive day at the races over the weekend, with 3700 people flocking to the Healesville Racecourse for the annual Healesville Cup.
Healesville Amateur Racing Club president, David Purcell, said there was a “fantastic” and “extremely well behaved” crowd at the Saturday, 14 January races.
“The committee were just ecstatic for the way the day went – it was just a great crowd,” Mr Purcell said.
“The group that were there just enjoyed the whole day and sort of rallied on until half past five or so, and everyone took off without any incident.
Mr Purcell said there was “terrific” racing, with the cup so hotly contested that footage of the final seconds had to be reviewed before a winner was crowned.
Maldonado, ridden by jockey Ray Douglas and owned by Cranbourne’s Karen Flaherty, won the Healesville Cup, followed by Tip Rat and Goldoni.
“It was one of the most successful cup meetings we’ve had in a number of years,” Mr Purcell said, attributing the good crowds to a mild weather forecast and holding the cup a week later than in previous years.
“If we get a favourable forecast, we’re in for a good crowd – if we get an adverse forecast … then a lot of people do their planning around what the weather’s going to be like.
“From the point-of-view of the crowd, it was a very comfortable day.”
Mr Purcell said Kelly Sports ran events for children at the event, while the Fashions on the Field was “hotly contested” by visitors.
Rowville’s Mikayla Trotter won the Fashions on the Field, with nine-year-old Owen from Croydon Hills winning the Boys Fashion on the Field and nine-year-old Charlotte from Woori Yallock winning the girl’s section.
Doris Jovac from Oak Park won Best Hat in the competition.
Mr Purcell said it was the second year the Fashions on the Field had been held at the races, and that it – and the whole event – had been well supported by visitors and local businesses through sponsorship.
“In reviewing the day, we couldn’t be happier,” he said.
