GRC has Geelong Cup raring to go

THE barriers will open at the bet365 Geelong Cup in less than a week, and the Geelong Racing Club (GRC) is expecting to welcome several thousand people back to the track.

The cup – the GRC’s flagship event of the year – was run without general admission racegoers in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions, but will return to normal conditions when it is staged on Wednesday, October 19.

GRC chief executive officer Luke Rayner said preparations were going very well at the racecourse.

“Life is busy at the GRC, there’s no doubt about that, but corporate sales have gone through the roof,” he said.

“It will be a sell-out from a corporate sales perspective with around 5,000 pre-purchased tickets, which is fantastic for the club.”

Mr Rayner said the weather forecast was favourable as of Tuesday this week, with heavy rain expected on Wednesday and yesterday (Thursday, October 13), but this would be highly beneficial for the track ahead of race day on Wednesday next week – a public holiday in the City of Greater Geelong.

“Really, all we’re hopeful of is that we get an okay day on the day, for those people who get out of bed and say ‘What am I going to do today – why wouldn’t I head to the Geelong Cup and have a great day?’.”

He said there were plenty of attractions on offer for the general public.

“The Sporting Globe beer garden is a really elevated GA experience with one of Geelong’s favourite bands, People’s Poets, playing all day; the Furphy container bar will have a big screen in there and a bookmaker, there’ll be a few little pop-up attractions in there.

“And for general admission, there’s obviously all of our lawns, picnics, rugs, blankets… I think it’ll be a great day for everybody.”

Mr Rayner said he was heartened by the good response to this year’s race so far.

“It’s been 2019 since we’ve had a crowd at a Geelong Cup, and that’s significant for us in the fact that we rely heavily on a successful Geelong Cup day, so to welcome people back and to receive the support we have from many Geelong businesses and from surrounding areas has been outstanding.

“We’re really excited and we can’t wait for the day.”

Mr Rayner said Racing Victoria and Country Racing Victoria had provided higher prizemoney on the day, with the winnings for the bet365 Geelong Cup increasing by $100,000 to $500,000.

The $175,000 Black Pearl Stakes is also a feature on the nine-race card.

“We’ve got great racing, we’ve got big fields as is expected, I’m sure there’ll be some good value and some great opportunities for people to come out here and have a little bit each way,” Mr Rayner said.

On Wednesday last week, the GRC hosted more than 75 guests at Little Creatures Brewery to officially launch the Geelong Cup.

This year, the race celebrates the 20-year anniversary of Media Puzzle winning the Geelong Cup/Melbourne Cup double.

For more information on the Geelong Cup and for last minute tickets, head to thegeelongcup.com.au