HORSE RACING
By LIAM DURKIN
ALL is set for this Friday’s Moe Cup.
The Moe Racing Club’s stable event is much more than just a day at the races.
Cause for celebration is the order of the day each Moe Cup, as Moe traders and businesses unite, while locals put their feet up and unwind on the lawn, in the marquee or with family over the picnic basket.
Live music, fashions on the field, and kids activities are just some of the elements set to make this year’s Moe Cup another fantastic instalment.
World class new function room – check.
Premier race track – check.
Weather – will be constantly checking.
The first stop on the Gippsland country cup calendar, it is all systems go for the running of the Moe Cup this Friday.
General excitement is expected to permeate through the town, with businesses taking part in the traditional Moe Cup Day Sales.
Following the success of a recent shift from the traditional Thursday timeslot, further positive changes are set to make for another memorable outing at Moe Racing Club.
The club has indeed been busy in recent years, upgrading virtually all facilities to come into line with the 21st century.
Of most note was the recently opened race day building.
This two-storey complex was officially opened by state racing Minister, Anthony Carbines, who described Moe’s facilities as being “world class standard”.
Located just off the existing Turfside Function Centre, the new elevated race day building features two function spaces, and offers an enhanced race viewing experience, thanks to a panoramic view of the entire track.
It is said this view is on par with the best in country Victoria.
Downstairs, the revamped jockey’s rooms have both changeroom and social facilities, while the previous ground level members area is now open to the general public, meaning all race goers can enjoy meetings from the comfort of indoors.
This year’s Moe Cup is set to be an historic occasion, as it will be the first time the club showcases these facilities to a potential crowd of more than 5000.
While all will be hoping for favourable weather, members and the general public will be sheltered from the elements regardless, and as they say in show business “the show will go on”.
Don’t expect the meeting to be abandoned. Not even flooding across the entire state could stop the Moe Cup two years ago.
Moe Racing Club’s premier StrathAyr track has stood the test of time, and pretty much paid for itself since being installed in 2016.
Its sand-based design allows continuous drainage to occur and prevents surface water laying on the track.
Trainers will be vying for a share of the $130,000 prize pool on offer in this year’s cup, with the winner pocketing $71,500.
At time of going to press, fields had been released for the main event.
Last year’s winner Suizuro has not nominated, meaning a new champion will be crowned.
Some very high calibre trainers have nominated horses, with Peter Moody entering four-year-old mare Alma Rise and the team of Ben, Will and JD Hayes putting three horses up.
The Hayes clan are the reigning champion trainers on the country Victoria circuit, and will be hoping one of either Flash Feeling, Dublin Journal or Independent Road comes through.
Moe Racing Club will host a nine-race card for cup day, saving the best for last, with the Moe Cup to see out the meeting.
COMMUNITY will be at the heart of the Moe Cup.
Moe Racing Club has a number of activations for the whole family, demonstrating there is a lot more to a day at the races than just horses and gambling.
There will be the usual goings-on in the half hour intervals between races, with music played in marquees, mingling on the lawn, perhaps on the comfort of an unfurled picnic rug, to go with the general hustle and bustle and click-clack of horse shoes trotting around the mounting yard.
Fashions on the field is again set to be as hotly contested as the races themselves, with colour and creativity to showcase.
Those with dyed hair will surely hold some advantage in the best-dressed stakes.
Prominent local lawyer Kim McFarlane will be one of the judges, and will be laying down the law on any crimes against fashion.
Categories this year include best dressed lady, best dressed gentleman, best fascinator and best glam.
Fashion plate Karlie Owen is again expected to make the trip down from Cranbourne South, in a bid to add to her collection of sashes.
Three certainties in life: death, taxes and Karlie Owen to win fashions.
Community connections will again be strong at this year’s Moe Cup, with people from local sporting clubs, groups, workplaces and even Latrobe City Council all mingled in the same venue.
Connections of a more poignant nature are evident simply by looking at the date for this year’s Moe Cup – October 18.
Moe Football-Netball Club senior footballers begin their preseason exactly one month later.
A last hurrah therefore is on the cards before the first physical steps of 2025 commence.
Speaking of next footy season, if newly appointed MDU senior coach Rhett Kelly can take the entire Leongatha twos team with him, that would be greatly appreciated.
A message from Moe Racing Club Chairman, Mike Vanderfeen:
THE 2024 Ladbrokes Moe Cup will be held this Friday (October 18) at the Moe Racing Club.
Our staff have been busily preparing for what will once again provide a fantastic setting for all race goers to mingle and enjoy the day.
The recent $4m upgrade of the race day building and jockey facilities will provide a new experience for all participants.
The club is extremely fortunate to have the financial support of both the state government and racing industry, not only for the recent construction project, but also funding support for Moe Cup day.
The local racing industry provides an important part in regional Victoria. At the official opening of our race day building, State Member for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh was quoted as saying:
“The thoroughbred racing industry in Latrobe-Gippsland region generates more than $89 million for the Victorian economy and helps sustain over 700 fulltime equivalent jobs in the region.”
The Moe Cup is proud to play our part in this important industry.
Cup day at Moe provides the community and members with the opportunity to enjoy the company of friends and the races on a day that history shows attracts a large crowd. We have many that travel from outside our area and as far away as Queensland on an annual basis.
To help those attending we provide free bus transport from Traralgon, Morwell, Newborough, Warragul and Trafalgar to and from the Moe racecourse on the day. Details of the times of travel are displayed on the cup website.
The race day will feature the $100,000 Inglis Extra bonus for the three-year-old maiden race over 1100 metres, which will bring an exciting amount of high class horses and trainers to the program.
Attendees are well catered for in a number of marquee’s, the grandstand, lawn area or the undercover betting ring.
Entertainment on the day will also consist of Fashions on the Field, music between races in the marquees and after the races we have an afterparty with a local DJ in the betting ring until 7pm.
We extend an invitation to everyone who wants to come along and help us make the Ladbrokes Moe Cup 2024 a great success once again this Friday!
MOE CUP 2024 DETAILS
Date: Friday, October 18
Location: 2 Waterloo Road, Moe
Gates open: 11.30am
Bus timetable: Traralgon – 11.30am: ASIC HQ (22 Grey St); 11.45am: Aus Post Morwell
(209 Princes Dr); 11.55am: Newborough BP (Narracan Dr). Warragul 11.30am: Warragul train station; 11.45am: Yarragon train station; 11.55am: Trafalgar BP (Princes Highway). Both services depart Moe Racing Club at 6.30pm.
TRACK FACTS
Moe Cup: 2050 metres
Track record (2050m): 2:03.800 – Royal Snack (1995)
Circumference: 1732m
Width: 20m (approximate)
Straight: 300m
MOE CUP PRIZEMONEY
1st: $71,500
2nd: $23,400
3rd: $11,700
4th: $6500
5th: $3900
6th-10th: $2600
MOE Racing Club’s ‘little brother’ is also ready for the season ahead.
Latrobe Valley Racing Club members gathered recently in the Glenview Park dining room to formally announce the start of their season.
Latrobe Valley Racing Club Chairperson Frank Bezzina addressed the auditorium, and said the committee was eagerly awaiting the club’s two race meetings, Derby Day and Traralgon Cup.
The Traralgon-based club differs from other racing clubs across Gippsland in Moe, Sale, Bairnsdale and Stony Creek, as it is an entirely volunteer organisation.
The club has continued to go from strength-to-strength in the last 24 months, with improvements made across the facility.
Bezzina made particular mention of the Latrobe Valley Racing Club Committee, who have all been proactive in seeing the venue reach its full potential.
Very much a ‘hands on’ committee, most of the work done at Latrobe Valley Racing Club has been completed by volunteer hours.
The committee has welcomed Danielle Davis, who has been charged with overseeing the marquees on race day.
By all reports, the marquees will well and truly be the place to be on Traralgon Cup day.
Member for Morwell Martin Cameron was in attendance at the launch, and was able to see the great work being undertaken by the community organisation.
Traralgon Football-Netball Club officials were also present, with president Kevin Foley and club legends Leah and Andrew Quenault still understandably beaming from the Maroons’ Gippsland League premiership.
In keeping with strong community service evidenced by those involved with Latrobe Valley Racing Club, fellow Latrobe Valley Racing Club committee member Andrew Livingstone is also the current chair of the Gippsland League.
In terms of local cups, Moe is the first cab (or should we say cup) off the rank.
Next week is the Sale Cup on Sunday, October 27, and then Derby Day on Saturday, November 2.
The Traralgon Cup will be held at Latrobe Valley Racing Club on Sunday, December 1.
