Geelong Racing Club gets funding and award nominations

THE Geelong Racing Club (GRC) is in the box seat for a big year, receiving a tranche of state government funding as well as nominations for this year’s Country Racing Victoria (CRV) Awards.

Minister for Racing Martin Pakula visited Geelong Racecourse last week to announce five themed racing campaigns to showcase regional race meetings between September 22 and April 28.

Feature races will showcase Victoria’s 64 country racetracks, including 13 picnic racing venues. Each event will include a range of attractions including subsidised entry, family picnic packages and free children’s activities.

The new GoingSticks technology will also be rolled out at the Geelong, Sale, Seymour and Warrnambool racecourses. It replaces the penetrometer system and provides a more accurate and detailed breakdown of track surface conditions across the entire length of any track.

GRC will also receive more than $32,000 in dedicated funding, including support for the Father’s Day Races on September 2 and repairs to the jockeys’ rooms.

“This is about showcasing the very best of racing across Victoria and celebrating the importance of country racing communities across the state,” Mr Pakula said.

“We’re rolling out new technology across Victoria to ensure that thoroughbred racing continues to keep pace with international standards and to improve safety for jockeys and trainers.”

Last week, CRV revealed GRC was among the five finalists for Country Racing Victoria Club of the Year, which is limited to clubs with turnover greater than $1 million per year.

The set criteria for the award includes club overview, customer service/engagement, community/charity involvement, capital improvements, hospitality/race day package sales, sponsorship, OHS improvements, governance practices/improvements, and marketing initiatives.

The 2017 Geelong Cup, run by the GRC, was also named as one of the seven finalists in the Country Racing Victoria Event of the Year.

The 2017/18 CRV Awards will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on August 25.