GRC hails super results from Super Saturday

SUPER Saturday on the Coast has been run and won, with the Geelong Racing Club (GRC) declaring its first Saturday metropolitan racing event in decades as a success.

More than $1.6 million in prize money and bonuses was on offer, including the day’s feature race, the bet365 Coastal Classic run over 1700m.

The winner of the two-year old race, the $225,000 Rex Gorell Geelong Diamond, also scored an exemption into the Blue Diamond, Victoria’s premier two-year old race at Caufield on February 24.

Off the track, activations and attractions included the Piccadilly Makers Market, food offerings, a beach volleyball court with games being held throughout the day, and an Ultimate Kids Zone with carnival rides, a petting zoo, a water park as well as Kelly Sports activities and merchandise giveaways.

GRC chief executive officer Luke Rayner said the day was successful on several fronts and drew a crowd of about 5,000 to the course’s first Saturday metropolitan meet in 87 years.

“The weather gods were relatively in our favour, which was terrific, and we had quality racing on the track.

“These events are not gifted, they’re not handed out, they’ve certainly got to be earned. Our club’s really pursued a standalone for some time now, so to be provided the opportunity was terrific.

“For year one, for an event that we were pretty much able to pull together post-Geelong Cup, I’m really proud of the team and all involved.”

GRC also ran a community fundraiser initiative, selling bundles of 20 tickets and a chance to share in a $40,000 cash prize pool, with the top prize of $20,000 going to St Mary’s Sporting Club.

“We’re very proud that we’ve been lucky enough to be involved, and to have a win for the club is fantastic in the off-season,” St Mary’s Sporting Club treasurer Matthew Leith said.

Mr Rayner said he had heard great feedback from the clubs involved in the initiative this year.

“From the GRC’s perspective, it’s something we’d like to grow over the 12 months leading into the raceday; it’d be great to have more clubs involved and give more clubs a chance to win some serious money.”

About 200 people took up the offer of free bus rides to and from the coastal towns, and Mr Rayner said the crowd on Saturday might have been higher had it not been very good beach weather.

“We’ll get the event again, there’s no doubt about that – this will become an annual event, and the industry are really keen for us to cement this as part of the fixture going forward.”