MEMBERS NEWS
A SPECTACULAR AUTUMN
Flemington Racing Spectacular had more than 36,000 racegoers of all ages flock to Flemington throughout March to enjoy the carnival atmosphere, which included Australian Guineas Day on March 4, Super Saturday on March 11, and the newly introduced TAB Australian Cup Day on March 25.
M ore than 300 horses competed for over $11 million in prizemoney across 27 individual races. These races were won by 19 individual trainers and 14 individual jockeys, with some familiar faces sharing in the glory as well as the emergence of new stars. On Australian Guineas Day racegoers cheered home New Zealand-trained filly Legarto, who won the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) for husband-and-wife training duo Bev and Ken Kelso. Godolphin continued its dominance of Australian racing under the guidance of head trainer James Cummings, winning the final two Group 1 races for the season at Flemington in the 150th running of the Group 1 Yulong Stud Newmarket Handicap (1200m) on Super Saturday with star sprinter In Secret and the Group 1 TAB Australian Cup (2000m) with fan favourite Cascadian on TAB Australian Cup Day. TAB Australian Cup Day also gave racegoers their first glimpse into this year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup, with the running of The Lexus Roy Higgins (2600m). The race offered the first of six golden tickets into the ‘race that stops a nation’™ and was won by Goldman for Gai Waterhouse OAM and Adrian Bott. This year marks the 10-year anniversary of Waterhouse’s victory in the 2013 Melbourne Cup with Fiorente, a feat
“It’s been an absolutely fantastic two months of racing at Flemington in February and March, with close to 50,000 people attending Headquarters to witness four Group 1 race days and some of Australia’s most elite thoroughbreds,” Mr Rosich said. “The VRC looks forward to building on the success of the Flemington Racing Spectacular in years to come and cement itself as the marquee carnival outside of the iconic Melbourne Cup Carnival.” Another popular event was the annual Long Lunch, which proved a success once again. Held on 1 March on the famous Flemington Front Lawn, more than 380 guests enjoyed a delicious four-course menu from Flemington Racing Spectacular guest chef Charlie Carrington, whose menu was the highlight in a number of Flemington restaurants across the three race days. Hosted by 3AW’s Jacqui Felgate and 7 Horse Racing’s Jason Richardson, there were a number of special guests at the lunch – including members and celebrities alike – which saw more than $5500 raised for The Royal Children’s Hospital’s Good Friday Appeal through a raffle. The Long Lunch was a perfect way to set the scene for a huge month of racing at Flemington during March. Thank you to all VRC members who joined us for three fantastic race days of the 2023 Flemington Racing Spectacular.
she is trying to replicate this year with the emerging stayer Goldman. Off the track, the Flemington Faregound proved the place to be for racegoers of all ages, with a host of food vendors activating within the outdoor extravaganza and the Front Lawn Party Hour entertaining racegoers after the racing action had finished. Special guests also joined the autumn racing celebrations at Flemington, including sporting legend Ricky Ponting and his wife Rianna, Collingwood star Nick Daicos, Paralympian and VRC Ambassador Emma Booth, VRC Ambassador Crystal Kimber- Peters, DJ and influencer Paris Lawrence, Australian high jumper Amy Pejkovic and partner, former Essendon footballer David Zaharakis, Atlas Dining head chef Charlie Carrington and 7 Horse Racing’s Grace Hayden. Close to $50,000 was raised across the three race days for the VRC’s charity partners, Childhood and Racehorse Movement (CARM) and the Good Friday Appeal. On Australian Guineas Day more than $9000 was raised for CARM while $38,000 was donated to the Good Friday Appeal as a result of fundraising initiatives on Super Saturday and TAB Australian Cup Day. VRC Chief Executive Officer Steve Rosich said it was a spectacular result for the club.
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INSIDE HEADQUARTERS ISSUE 2 2023
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