Ballarat’s big track day races closer

PREPARATIONS for one of the Ballarat region’s biggest sporting events, the Ballarat Cup, are well advanced for the big race on December 7.

Nominations for the $500,000 race will not close until the Monday before and the field will not be declared until the Wednesday, but already racing enthusiasts and others just looking to be part of the day are securing themselves a spot.

At least one of the packages available, the Terrace Dining Package, has sold out, but a range of others are still available.

Ballarat Turf Club chief executive officer Pete Downs said the Cup day had habitually attracted between 5000 and 10,000 people, but COVID-19 and weather had affected the event in recent years.

“We’re hoping for six or seven thousand this year.”

Mr Downs said apart from the 2,000m Cup – race nine on the 10-race card – a new event for developing horses will be part of the 2024 schedule.

It is called the Emerging Stars Final and will be run over 1,400m.

Mr Downs said it will carry $250,000 and is for young horses who qualify over a series of races in this part of the state.

Another new feature this year will be a Back to Ballarat event at the Red Lion Hotel on Cup eve, for those in the industry and for those with a love of racing.

Mr Downs said the ticketed event – details of which will be made public shortly – is being organised to further promote interest in Cup day and bring more people to Ballarat.

He said that event was hoped to attract several hundred people.

Another new arrangement, this time on the day itself, will be that the exclusive bus services to and from Ballarat – which operate from different locations around the city – will be completely free this year.

Mr Downs said he was unable to provide details about runners in the Cup or a favourite, given that nominations were still to be finalised, but knew of some trainers who were preparing possible entrants.

“A few local trainers are setting some good horses; [Miners Rest trainer] Mitch Freedman is targeting some,” he said.

The best place to book tickets and packages and to find out more about Cup day is on the turf club website, country.racing.com/Ballarat.

Mr Downs agreed the annual event was one of Ballarat’s most notable sporting occasions.

“It’s one of the biggest, if not the biggest, sporting events in the region,” he said.