Starters ready as Ballan Cup jumps in Geelong

WHILE the Ballan Jockey Club no longer has a racecourse to call its own, it still upholds a long tradition of running an annual race meeting.

To that end the Ballan Community Bank Cup jumps on Saturday, 9 November at the Geelong Racecourse.

Catherine Moon, Ballan Jockey Club committee member said the club has a proud history of 167 years of racing and enthusiasm for the sport in the Ballan community has not waned.

“Every year this is the major social event for Ballan,” Ms Moon said.

With eight races on the card about half the cup day crowd come from Ballan and surrounding areas while the other half are racegoers from Geelong and Melbourne.

The Stakes Day races at Flemington, are on the big screen at Geelong so punters won’t miss out on the thrills of the last day of the Spring Racing Carnival.

It’s not all about the thoroughbreds, with Commercial Property Guide Fashions on the Field offering prizes valued at over $5000 to fashionistas and Blush Bar’s Pamper Room will be open for the last-minute touch-ups before taking to the catwalk.

The jockey club organises free buses to take Ballan patrons to Geelong as well as arranging hospitality packages and table seating.

“It’s a great day for people to catch up with friends they may only see once a year at the track,” Ms Moon said. “The facilities at Geelong are very good and we are attracting more people each year from across the district.”