LIAM DURKIN
HORSE RACING
By LIAM DURKIN THE race to the Seat of Morwell won’t be the only one that is hotly contested this weekend. The Traralgon Cup will be run and won this Sunday, and all local race-going eyes are on the Latrobe Valley Racing Club as it gets set for its marquee day. It has been all systems go at Glenview Park, and all is in readiness for what is expected to be a great community event. Locals are clearly eager to get to the races – the club sold out all its packages last weekend. Latrobe Valley Racing Club chairperson Frank Bezzina said excitement was building, counting down the days until the gates were swung open. “We just can’t wait, building up from what we had last year, a couple of thousand people, it is going to be fantastic,” he said. The last 12 months have indeed been busy for the volunteer organisation. Latrobe Valley Racing Club was the first sporting venue in the state to welcome back crowds last year, and has continued to be a welcoming community hub ever since. A key part of the club’s success has been a focus not just on racing, but on utilising its Glenview Park facility for the betterment of many. The Latrobe Valley Express is even using Glenview Park as a depo to load newspapers. As Bezzina explained, an enthusiastic and passionate committee meant all were working toward making the race-going experience as enjoyable as possible for patrons. “My committee just can’t work hard enough at the moment, everyone is just inventing work, we really have a good future,” he said. “New TV’s, all communications, new speakers, everybody will be able to see and hear the races, we’re proud of what we have done in a year.” A new outdoor undercover area was also recently installed, while there are plans to build a viewing mound all the way along the straight. Inside the members room, the facility has undergone a significant facelift, with the space opened up to enhance race days even more. The track itself has stood up under much adversity in recent times, most notably on Derby Day last month, where a full meeting was held despite a huge downpour the night before. “We got through Derby Day which was pretty heavy weather, the only track in Victoria that actually got through other than Flemington that day,” Bezzina said. “The track has got a good cover of grass, supered it a couple of weeks ago, it has come along fantastically.” In keeping with the community aspect of Latrobe Valley Racing Club, Moe trainer Mick Templeton is actually the track manager at Traralgon. Templeton was busy trimming the track when The Express paid a visit to Glenview Park in the lead-up to Traralgon Cup Day. Bezzina encouraged everyone to get along to the Traralgon Cup this Sunday, following on from the success seen at the Moe Cup and Sale Cup in recent weeks. Latrobe Valley has joined racing clubs across Gippsland (Moe, Sale, Stony Creek and Bairnsdale) in working together to see the sport thrive moving forward. “Gippsland racing, we have a great future, all the clubs are really amalgamated well, we are all best buddies,” Bezzina said. The Traralgon Cup will be run over 1900m, while an eight-race card will feature. Gates at Glenview Park (110 McNairn Rd, Traralgon East) will open from 11am Sunday.
