HORSE RACING
TRARALGON CUP
By LIAM DURKIN
ORDINARILY, patrons running on the track at a Country Racing Victoria meeting face upwards of a $10,000 fine and yearly suspensions.
There was no need to impose such sanctions at Latrobe Valley Racing Club last Sunday.
After all the club went through in the lead up to its marquee Traralgon Cup meeting, the sight of the track actually being used was enough to elicit some wry laughter.
The luckless Latrobe Valley Racing Club added to its list of seemingly unfortunate fates in recent years, after persistent rain on Saturday led an abandonment of the main event.
Stewards made the call around 7am on Sunday morning, citing wet spots around the 500-metre mark as the main concern.
In a cruel twist, Sunday’s fine weather meant the track was virtually bone dry by mid-afternoon.
According to Latrobe Valley Racing Club officials, they missed racing by only four hours.
Not to be totally defeated, the club pushed ahead with usual cup festivities.
The club opened up the members area to the general public, and welcomed a healthy crowd which made full use of marquee facilities on offer.
Country Racing Victoria showed its full support for the club, with state directors Anthony Quigley and Damian Drum attending in person, along with local Paralympian Emily Beecroft as guest speaker.
Beecroft even flew down from Queensland the night before.
In the dining room, presentations were made to recently inducted Latrobe Valley Racing Club life members Peter Wight and Peter Walkley, along with a special club badge presentation to club legend Sam Gibson.
While there might not have been racing, there was certainly still a meeting.
Addressing the dining room assembly, club committee member Barry Whitehead said “naturally we are devastated”, before introducing club chair Frank Bezzina.
Bezzina, who has shouldered the brunt of most club affairs in recent years, put on a brave face during his address.
“I’ve had a few teary moments, but we’ll move on,” he said.
“Well who would have thought… last month we spent 20 grand to water the track because it was so dry, and this week we couldn’t keep the water off.
“We’ve worked tirelessly this year to prepare the track and the venue itself, it looks absolutely mint, just a shame that we couldn’t present on the race day.”
Bezzina paid tribute to his committee, who like him, operate in an entirely voluntary capacity to hold the club’s two race meetings per year.
In true country fashion, Latrobe Valley received assistance from Moe Racing Club, Sale Turf Club and Traralgon Golf Club to help prepare its track.
Moe oversaw the track management side of things, while Latrobe Valley was able to acquire equipment at short notice from Sale Turf Club and the Traralgon Golf Club.
“It was a team effort, but we just didn’t get over the line,” Bezzina said.
If ever there was a sign of how emotional leading a sporting organisation can be, it was surely encapsulated when Bezzina was embraced in a long hug by Sale Turf Club Chief Executive, Brad Evans.
As for the main race itself, patrons were denied the chance to witness what was looming as a competitive dash across 1900 metres.
Six-year-old gelding Station One was listed to defend his crown from last year’s Traralgon cup, while 2022 winner Starspangled Baby for Sale trainer Andrew Perdon was also in the field.
Moe trainer Mick Templeton entered eight-year-old mare Stay A While, and would have been up against two runners from the Ben, Will and JD Hayes stable – reigning Country Racing Victoria trainers of the year.
Some very famous names in racing were also connected to the Traralgon Cup, with Gai Waterhouse and Michelle Payne entering Soul Choice and Alhambra Lad respectively.
Those trainers might still get to lift the 2024 Traralgon Cup, as the Express understands plans are in place to try and set a race aside for a Traralgon Cup at a Gippsland meeting before the year is out.
Bezzina meanwhile was already looking ahead to next year.
“Our club holds a really bright future, I promise you next year we will have a Traralgon Cup,” he said defiantly.
Such defiance has seen the Latrobe Valley Racing Club bounce back from a laundry list of previous setbacks.
In the last four years alone, the tale of the tape reads: no crowds for Derby Day (2021), Derby Day transferred (2023), Traralgon Cup rescheduled (2023), and now Traralgon Cup cancelled (2024).
When interviewed at last year’s Traralgon Cup, a relieved Bezzina simply said “we got there”.
As the club moves forward, all will be hoping it will be a case of ‘we’ll get there’.
A MARQUEE arrangement that would have put Flemington’s Birdcage to shame highlighted Traralgon Cup day 2024.
Patrons happily made full use of all facilities on offer in the Latrobe Valley Racing Club’s main marquee, providing an unforgettable race day experience.
Meticulously planned and put together by new Latrobe Valley Racing Club committee member Danielle Daniels, the marquee combined elements of old and new, with a dash of pink occupying the colour scheme, with pieces of antique furniture included as well.
The marquee was certainly a labour of love for Daniels, who handmade close to 100 festival ribbon hoops to hang, and even brought real life teak leaf branches from her garden to add to the aesthetic.
An equally dedicated crew was on site as early as 6am on cup day to help with some finishing touches.
The marquee also included a make-up studio, live music and bar, complete with cocktail options.
Why not have a fruit tingle on a sunny Sunday afternoon?
JUST try keeping fashionistas away from the races.
With no horses going around on the track for Traralgon Cup day, all competitive attention was directed to those dressed on stage.
Latrobe Valley Racing Club kept its fashions on the field events in full swing, with a sizeable crowd mingling to see who was crowned best dressed.
Truthfully, if you hadn’t of known there was no racing, you would have been none-the-wiser such was the size of the crowd that gathered in the grandstand to catch the fashions.
Judges cast a critical eye over competitors before making their decisions.
A record number of entrants took part in ladies best dressed and best millenary, won by Mandy Manning of Patterson Lakes and Baxter’s Hayleigh Hoking.
Richmond’s Michael McAlpine added to his ever-growing collection of sashes, again winning the best dressed men’s category.
