WITH Ballarat one of forty-one stops as part of the annual Melbourne Cup tour, staff at host stable Ajay Equestrian are asking the community to help make the visit a memorable one.<\/p>\n
Victoria Racing Club representatives will be among the visitors who will stop off at the business\u2019 Invermay stables with the cup in tow in mid-October.<\/p>\n
A mini-carnival day is set to be take place for the tour, during which Ajay Equestrian owner Abbey Willis said she wants to convey a community atmosphere.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll handle the horse side but what we\u2019re looking for is community groups or businesses to showcase what they\u2019ve got in that section,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor example, the Scouts can come out and show what they\u2019ve got. The CFA have their trucks and activities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Cup is about Melbourne and Australia and who we are so it\u2019s important to have that community vibe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ajay Equestrian staff will have four thoroughbreds and 20 ponies participating in the day\u2019s events, with presentations planned to showcase their horses\u2019 racing careers.<\/p>\n
The event is set to also include pony rides, a mini-jumping castle, a bull, and competitions as well as Melbourne Cup-themed activities and horse photo opportunities.<\/p>\n
Attendees can either pay a flat $40 entry fee or enter free and pay for individual activities.<\/p>\n
Ms Willis said she\u2019s also looking for a local personality who can share their inspiring story with visitors.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Melbourne Cup is about inspiring so we would love someone who\u2019s been a big part of the community or helped a lot of people,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t need to be someone who\u2019s done the most things or won the most stuff but that person that everybody knows or loves.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marg Anderson, manager of Ajay Equestrian\u2019s riding school said the event will be a great opportunity for their roughly 150 students.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re notifying the people at our school to do the pony rides and things like that,\u201d she said. \u201cA lot of them are very keen to be part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Melbourne Cup tour\u2019s local stop is set to run from 10am to 1pm on Tuesday 17 October and to get involved call 0431 661 923.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
WITH Ballarat one of forty-one stops as part of the annual Melbourne Cup tour, staff at host stable Ajay Equestrian are asking the community to help make the visit a memorable one. Victoria Racing Club representatives will be among the visitors who will stop off at the business\u2019 Invermay stables with the cup in tow […]<\/p>\n