By RUSSELL BENNETT
ONE of Pakenham Racing Club’s fastest-growing race days is back this Saturday with the Evergreen Turf Guineas Day.
Held on the same day as the Caulfield Guineas, racegoers can enjoy a thrilling thoroughbred racing experience and superb hospitality in a laid back, country atmosphere.
The day will feature a packed race card, with a number of big screens on hand to make sure no one misses a second of the group racing at Caulfield and Randwick.
The highlight of this Saturday’s activities will be the crowning of the Star News’ Team of Champions competition. The hotly-contested battle has local sporting teams pitted against each other in a range of activities to come away with a $5000 sponsorship and a $2300 automatic defibrillator package.
The Pakenham Racing Club can offer the initiative thanks to the Victorian Racing Industry Fund’s (VRIF) Raceday Attraction Program and has the funding to provide a package to help local sporting clubs in their own fundraising efforts.
Pakenham Racing Club chief executive Michael Hodge beamed about the initiative, commenting; “With this outstanding contribution from the Victorian Government’s Raceday Attraction Program, the Pakenham Racing Club will implement a whole range of new and innovative marketing strategies that will drive attendance and further develop Evergreen Turf Guineas Day as a premier race day in the Victorian racing calendar”.
In other racing news, local trainers picked up a couple of placings in the past week.
On Sunday, 2011 Evergreen Turf Handicap winner and last season’s JRA Cup champion Bianmick – trained by Michael Brady – finished a gallant third behind Flying Hussler and Precedence in the $100,000 Benalla Toyota Gold Cup, run over 2046 metres.
Bianmick – starting at $21 – left the gates well and was positioned second, running a hot pace set by Hussler. The local hope kept chasing hard to the finish, placing in a good-quality race.
Also on Sunday, the Ray Cross-trained Ego’s Better put in a terrific effort to finish third in the Betfair BM64 over 1000 metres at Bairnsdale.
Ego’s Better ($17) was slow out of the gates and settled back in second last position. Coming to the 600-metre mark, he was four-lengths off the second-last horse. He was hooked out to be the widest runner of the back before he charged down the outside, storming to an impressive third – given the circumstances.
Evergreen Turf Guineas Day also marks the return of the club’s most popular race day package, the ‘Paddock Party’.
This year’s new and improved edition boasts an entertainment precinct that includes a live band, Final Furlong arcade machine, handball and netball competitions and plenty more. For just $30, the package ensures some of the best value for money around this racing season.
Gates open from 11am, with the first local race kicking off at around 1pm.
Those still wishing to book a Paddock Party package can do so at www.pakenhamracing.com.au or by calling 5941 1207.
