Racing at feverish pitch

Rainy weather couldn’t deny a huge crowd from turning out for the first Pakenham Gazette Oaks Day at Racing.com Park in 2015. Another bumper day is expected at the track on Thursday 3 November. 146568 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

By David Nagel

THE racing spotlight will shine brightly on the Pakenham Racing Club next week as the club starts one of the biggest months in its history.
Racing.com Park in Tynong will come alive on Thursday 3 November as fillies of the two-legged variety relish their time in the sun at the popular Pakenham Gazette Oaks Day.
Key features of the day include a seven-race card, while all the action from Crown Oaks Day at Flemington will be beamed in live on the big screen.
Huge prizes go up for grabs in the Embellish Fashions on the Field, with the Mature Lady of the Day, the Best Dressed Couple and Gentlemen, and Lady of the Day all to be decided by the judges.
Live music will also get the crowd rocking on one of the best social days on the local calendar.
And Oaks day provides the perfect lead-up to the biggest Pakenham Cup on record.
Proudly presented by Superior Food Services, this year’s Pakenham Cup will run as a stand-alone Saturday meeting on 3 December.
The Superior Food Services Pakenham Cup will be the only Victorian race meeting on the day and makes Racing.com Park just the fourth regional racetrack- following Bendigo, Ballarat and Mornington- to host a meeting of metropolitan status and prizemoney.
The standalone meeting will be highlighted by the running of the 2500m Superior Food Services Pakenham Cup. This will be well supported by a feature-packed undercard worth over $700,000 including the running of the $100,000 VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m), a leg of the prestigious VOBIS Gold Premier Race Series.
An array of marquee and dining options look set to provide the perfect atmosphere for Christmas Parties and end of year functions while all patrons on course can enjoy the excitement of Fashions on the Field and the fun of free kids activities.
Ballarat Trainer Darren Weir will be shooting to win his third straight Pakenham Cup after claiming both editions of the race in 2015 with Tooleybuc Kid and Our Voodoo Prince respectively.