A monster week of celebration and racing awaits at Yarra Valley racecourse where the trots will again be in the thick of the Spring Racing Carnival action.
The picturesque Yarra Glen course will again be a magnet to race goers with Tuesday’s trots racing amid Melbourne Cup day followed by Thursday’s Yarra Valley pacing and trotting cups.
Club chief executive Brett Shambrook joined hosts Michael Howard and Nims Azoor on Trots Talk ahead of their Trots Country Cups Championship leg.
“It’s what we work towards all year round – it’s our grand final basically,” Mr Shambrook said.
“To kick off with Melbourne Cup Day, which is traditionally a massive event for the club, and then following on Thursday – Oaks Day – it’s sort of a new event for us. It’s our fifth Cup that we’ve conducted on that day and it’s really growing into something for the club.”
Of course it’s about much more than just racing, being also a feast of fashion, food and famiy fun.
“We’re very fortunate we are smack in the middle of a tourism destination,” Mr Shambrook said. “The Yarra Valley’s pretty iconic for great food, great wine and we are right in the middle of it. Beautiful country scenery, we are only 65km from the CBD and (visitors can) experience country racing at its best.
“We have all the amenities you would probably get at a metropolitan club, but in a much more relaxed environment, very family friendly.”
And, in Thursday’s cup day, some great trots racing.
“I’m really looking forward to Thursday, it could be a mini Inter Dominion heat with the calibre of horses that we are expecting.
“We’ve been getting great fields in recent years, Lennytheshark won the cup last year which really put the stamp on the event as a great country cup.
“Fingers crossed some of those horses heading to the Inter Dominion that the Yarra Valley Cup works into their program and they come here Thursday. It’s a great opportunity for people to see really good quality horses, and with Flemington races all on the big screen.”
More details via www.country.racing.com/yarra-valley
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